Hurricanes
Canes draw stretch-friendly schedule
Published: 2012-06-21 12:00:00
Updated: 2012-06-21 12:26:51
Jun 21, 2012
Raleigh, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes will play just two home games in the season’s first month but make up for it with 21 of their final 34 at home including a seven-game stretch at PNC Arena to close February and enter March.
The Canes’ schedule released on Thursday depicts a road-heavy first half with a flavor of home to enter a would-be stretch run.
More Hurricanes Stories
The Hurricanes will get their season-long six-game road trip out of the way out the gates as they will play six consecutive away from Raleigh. The trip will take them into Canada and along the west coast before finally returning to the Eastern Time zone in the season’s third week.
Carolina will open at Winnipeg before moving to Vancouver, Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Jose. The trip will conclude in Boston before their home opener against the New York Rangers on Oct. 26.
The season’s longest home-stretch begins on Feb. 15 against Boston and runs through Mar. 2, encompassing seven games – six of which are against Eastern Conference teams. The run is also part of a stretch where Carolina is home for 10 of 11 contests.
The Hurricanes’ first shot at the Stanley Cup participant from the Eastern Conference, the New Jersey Devils, will come on Dec. 2 at PNC Arena. They will return the visit on Jan. 8 and host again on Feb. 16.
Carolina will play 13 back-to-backs in the 2012-13 season, 12 of which involve travel. Last season, the team played 16 back-to-backs with 15 involving travel. Weekends will also be kind to the team and fans alike as 21 of the 41 home games will fall on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
Montreal will be the opponent for two notable games involving the Canes as the Canadiens will line up opposite Carolina on New Year’s Eve and in the regular-season finale. Both games will be played in Raleigh.
Under the NHL scheduling matrix, Carolina - as with every team - plays six games against each team in their division (24 games), four games against every other Eastern Conference team not in their division (40 games) and 18 games against Western Conference teams. They will play each of the Western teams once with a second game against each of Columbus, Anaheim and Phoenix.
Tickets are on sale for four different packages including a 26-game and four-12-game options.
The Hurricanes will open their exhibition schedule on Sept. 26 at Columbus, and play their first exhibition home game on Sept. 28 against the Nashville Predators.
Copyright 2013 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Most Recent Comments
RE: Canes draw stretch-friendly schedule
I really like the responses here. I agree, how does a professional sports franchise take a back seat to a state fair? It doesn't even really make a difference. Two homes games in the first MONTH?! For piddies sakes! Nothing like wearing out the youngins on the road right out of the gate.
Ugh.
- Posted by fuzzter1
Why is this a bad thing? The Canes have to make that long west coast swing sometime during the season. Why not out of the gate, when your legs are as fresh as they are going to be all year? Those long road trips have the added plus of bringing a team together, and we can use that to our advantage.
The State Fair isn't going anywhere - there are reasons why it is held at that time of the year and those reasons haven't changed. It's a good time to be on the road.
Lock-out
Playing the away games early and having a favorable home schedule down the stretch may be a HUGE financial advantage to the Canes this season....especially if there is trouble getting agreement on the CBA. Rumor has it that the first month, two months or three months of this season may be cancelled due to a lockout. Only time will tell how things turn out.
- Posted by wlcat609
I heard that as well regarding the likely lock-out. I wonder how they'll adjust to the shortened season. I'm not sure they'll just eliminate the games that were scheduled during the lock-out. The Canes may lose part of their home-stretch schedule.
RE: Canes draw stretch-friendly schedule
There was a time when we would have a Saturday game during the fair.
- Posted by Wags
You're right: I remember one year during the fair when the Canes and NC State had home games - total traffic nightmare.
RE: Canes draw stretch-friendly schedule
The State Fair really strikes a blow to the Hurricanes Playoff chances right from the onset every year. It's so tough to go for such a long stretch away from your bed. Evidenced by how well this team has played late in season's only to come up short after horrible starts
- Posted by ewcanes
it is what it is, this team with changes[hopefully with J. staal] will be a better team, and get off to a good start.. its as simple as that..
RE: Canes draw stretch-friendly schedule
I really like the responses here. I agree, how does a professional sports franchise take a back seat to a state fair? It doesn't even really make a difference. Two homes games in the first MONTH?! For piddies sakes! Nothing like wearing out the youngins on the road right out of the gate.
Ugh.
Rank: Sports Legend 
Rank: 
