1. This is a rough schedule to start the season
Any team that has to face the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, and St. Louis Blues in three straight games is hitting a rough point in their schedule. Carolina came very close to winning two of those contests.
The result against the Lightning on the scoreboard was very different from how competitive it actually was. Carolina lost 5-1 to the Bolts but it was more of a 2-1 type game when comparing the performances of both squads.
However, the slate does lighten up a bit in November. The Canes get the Anaheim Ducks on Oct. 29 to round out the weekend. It will be a much needed break between home games after the Canes had to travel from Toronto, ON, back to Raleigh in the span of 24 hours.
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Now that the Canes have gotten through the toughest part of the early season slate, they can turn their focus to the next four opponents. Carolina gets the Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, and Florida Panthers upcoming.