February 2020
Is it the playoffs yet? Come February, the playoffs picture really is starting to develop. You might start to get a view on who may or may not make it. A mix of home and road games, with a four game road trip. Starting in St. Louis and finishing in Dallas. My pick for this month.
Pick of the Month – Dallas Stars – 11th
This game is the first time that the Carolina Hurricanes meet the Dallas Stars in the 2019-20 season. The two members of the Wildcard Chaos Squad will play both their scheduled games in February. Dallas lost both games against Carolina this season and even failed to score in either of those games.
On a personal note, this game has the largest magnitude in my household. A Dallas Stars, Carolina Hurricanes rivalry and as I’ve just mentioned, it was Carolina who stole the show this season. Dallas have one of the top three most exciting young defensive prospects in hockey in Miro Heiskanen and a Vezina Trophy finalist in Ben Bishop as their goaltender.
You never know, the Carolina Hurricanes might line up with two time Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky in net, but it’s still likely to be a tough game. The return fixture is played exactly two weeks later where the Carolina Hurricanes will try to make it two out of two for the second season running.
The final game of February could also be decisive, a trip to Montreal, a team that the Carolina Hurricanes are likely to be battling with for a playoff spot. It’s the last time these two teams will meet and could play a pivotal role in securing a spot in the greatest spectacle in sport, the Stanley Cup Finals.
You’d have to say that after this season’s performances, anything less than a playoff spot for the Carolina Hurricanes is likely to be considered a disappointment to fans, players and staff. The month of March is where it gets really crucial, a gruelling schedule and the busiest of the year.