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Carolina Hurricanes: 10 thoughts after first quarter of the season

By Andrew Miller

RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 24: Derek Ryan #7 and Jeff Skinner #53 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrate Ryan's goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of an NHL game on November 24, 2017 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 24: Derek Ryan #7 and Jeff Skinner #53 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrate Ryan's goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of an NHL game on November 24, 2017 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – NOVEMBER 10: Carolina Hurricanes center Derek Ryan (7) and Columbus Blue Jackets center Brandon Dubinsky (17) face-off during a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Caroling Hurricanes on November 10, 2017, at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – NOVEMBER 10: Carolina Hurricanes center Derek Ryan (7) and Columbus Blue Jackets center Brandon Dubinsky (17) face-off during a game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Caroling Hurricanes on November 10, 2017, at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

7. The Metro might be a mess

Two of the best three teams in the Metro last season, the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals, are not in the top three in the Metro this season. Washington can’t put any consistent run together and Pittsburgh’s issues on defense are massive.

The problem for the rest of the Metro is that chances are either the Penguins or Capitals will catch fire sometime soon. Pittsburgh are the reigning Stanley Cup Champions and Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will not have this team out of the playoff picture for long.

Meanwhile, behind Alex Ovechkin and Braden Holtby, the Capitals should find their groove soon as well. The scary thing is that the Devils and Jackets are looking so good. Columbus has reigning Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky looking just as good as last season the Devils are young and hungry.

It’s not going to be an easy run for the Canes in the Metro this season. This division is hard to figure out and know where Carolina fits in. It would be no fluke if the Canes were able to get into the playoffs while playing in the Metro.

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