Carolina Hurricanes: Assessing the chances in the Metropolitan Division

When it comes down to it, the Carolina Hurricanes are in a solid position in the Metropolitan Division to actually make the playoffs in 2018.

As things start to heat up in the Metropolitan Division down the stretch of the regular season, the Carolina Hurricanes are right in the thick of the competition. The Canes took down the Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks in back-to-back home games at PNC Arena, on Feb. 9 and Feb. 10.

Considering the Canes already lost to the Avs and Canucks on the road earlier this season, it’s nice to see that they split the season series with both squads. If Carolina continues this hot play through the final months of the regular season, they’ll find themselves in the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade.

Carolina does currently sit outside the top three teams in the division, with the Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Philadelphia Flyers occupying those spots. And, the New Jersey Devils sit one point ahead of the Canes in the wildcard race.

However, the Canes finally jumped the Columbus Blue Jackets, a top team in the league for the past two seasons, in the division standings. The New York Rangers and New York Islanders are also below the Canes in the Metro.

There’s really no threat coming from the other division in the Eastern Conference, the Atlantic Division. Outside of the top three teams in the Atlantic which are the Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins, and Toronto Maple Leafs, the rest of the division’s members are out of the playoff picture.

The Canes do need to take care of business in their next game, which comes at home against the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 13. Los Angeles is a tougher opponent than the Canucks and Avs. But, the way the Canes are holding strong on defense at this moment, they should be up to the task.

Here’s an assessment of the Carolina Hurricanes’ chances in the Metropolitan Division for the rest of the 2017-18 NHL campaign.