Naturally, when the NHL dropped the schedule for the 2026-27 season last Thursday, our brains immediately went to certain matchups that we want to see for the Carolina Hurricanes. Florida. Tampa Bay. Montreal. Everyone. We're getting one of the Florida games out of the way on Opening Night, but what about the rest of the league? What other big games should we look forward to?
What follows is one game from each month during the regular season that I have circled on my calendar. Full transparency: there are multiple games I have earmarked throughout the season, and some months feature a ton of big games. However, these are the ones that I feel shouldn't be missed under any circumstance.
September/October: October 13 vs. Washington
All eyes will be on Opening Night against the Panthers, and for good reason. However, we'll talk that one to death for the next few months. I'm more interested in what could be Alex Ovechkin's final game in Raleigh, at least during the regular season. It's possible that this game marks the end of an era for the greatest goal scorer of all time.
The Capitals come to town for the second game of the season as well on October 2, so this marks two collisions in Raleigh in 11 days for the teams that most expect to finish 1-2 in the Metropolitan Division. It would also be the last time that he plays during the regular season in the building where he was drafted by the Capitals in 2004. I'm curious if the organization will recognize him in some way.
November: November 12 & 14 vs. Seattle
It has been 16 years since the Carolina Hurricanes faced an NHL opponent outside of North America during the regular season, but that will be rectified in November when they face the Seattle Kraken. Taking place over three days in Helsinki, Finland, the Canes will complete their season set with Seattle while abroad, and it's certain to be a spectacle.
The Canes opened the 2010-11 season against the Minnesota Wild in Finland, winning a pair of tight contests. This time, Sebastian Aho will be at home amongst the Finnish faithful, who got to experience the thrill of a bronze medal during the 2026 Winter Olympics. It's going to be a raucous environment, and I can't wait to see it.
December: December 28 vs. Tampa Bay
This week, I've already talked about two villains from the team's history in Scott Stevens and Brooks Orpik. Last week, I pondered a world in which Jake Guentzel re-signs with the Hurricanes. I'm not saying that John Carlson will ever be among the likes of those figures, nor do I think we'll be yearning to know what life could've been like, but it'll be a talking point for sure.
This won't be the first meeting of the season between these two clubs, who'll face off in Tampa at the end of November, but it'll be the first time they meet in Raleigh this season. I can't help but wonder how the fans will react. I'm guessing they'll either boo him the entire time, or they won't really care. At the very least, it'll be two very good teams coming together at the Lenovo Center.
January: January 17 vs. Vegas
They'll have their first clash in Vegas on December 21, giving the champs a chance to play in the barn where they won the Cup. In January, we'll get the return trip in front of the Caniacs. It will, hopefully, be a joyous occasion for the group. While they'll already have the banner hanging from the rafters by the time the Golden Knights come to town, there will be an added emphasis on this night.
The 2026 Stanley Cup Final was one of the most watched in history, and the most viewed since 2019. Part of that is attributed to how insane the first four games of the series were. We hadn't seen some of the things that Vegas and Carolina did in a long time. While we don't know where things will stand by mid-January, it should be a fun night in Raleigh.
February: February 9 vs. Colorado
As always, some pundits and experts could see a matchup between the Hurricanes and the Avalanche and label it as a "Stanley Cup Final preview," which could be appropriate. Obviously, it's a Cup Final that could generate a ton of buzz. However, that's not the only reason that this matchup will be a big deal for the Canes.
This battle at the Lenovo Center marks the first game after the All-Star Break, and it's not an easy team to come out of the break against. It's similar to how they faced the Bolts in the first game after the Olympics this past February. They came out of the gates against Tampa on fire, and they carried that momentum with them for the remainder of the regular season.
March: March 20 at San Jose
I've yet to feature a true road game thus far, with the only game away from home coming from across the Atlantic Ocean in November. Admittedly, San Jose is probably an odd choice to highlight here. There are some much bigger games to watch this month, including a home-and-home with Dallas that immediately follows the conclusion of their California trip.
However, the San Jose Sharks are going to become must-watch television very soon, if they aren't already. Macklin Celebrini is a big reason for that. He has already developed into one of the best players in the league, becoming appointment viewing when the Sharks play. It'll also be a cause for celebration, and not just because it's Hello Kitty Night. It's the final post-9 pm game of the season.
April: April 10 at Florida
"Wait, the Canes and the Panthers play twice before the season finale, yet THIS is the one you're the most excited about?" You're absolutely right. The Canes and the Panthers start and finish the season against each other, and they'll meet twice in the preseason. None of that matters because this has the makings of the most incredible car crash we've ever seen.
If most analysts are to be believed, Carolina and Florida are destined to meet in the Eastern Conference Finals for the third time in five years. By Game #82, they're expected to be locked into playoff spots. Therefore, this game could mean absolutely nothing. Let the AHL guys go at it. It could mean some debuts. It could also mean fireworks unlike anything we've ever seen before. Sign me up.
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