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3 Keys for the Carolina Hurricanes to Make the Playoffs in 2020

By Jeb Bohn

BOSTON, MA - MAY 9: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates his goal against the Boston Bruins in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 9, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 9: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates his goal against the Boston Bruins in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 9, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – MAY 9: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates his goal against the Boston Bruins in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 9, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MAY 9: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates his goal against the Boston Bruins in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 9, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Last season, the Carolina Hurricanes ended their drought and brought playoff hockey back to Raleigh.  To get there again, a few questions have to be answered.

The 2009 NHL playoffs brought some great memories for Carolina Hurricanes fans: from tying and then beating the New Jersey Devils with under 2 minutes left in Game 7 of the opening round to Scott Walker‘s overtime winner in another seventh game, Caniacs were left with a lot of very fond memories.

Part of the reason those memories remain so vivid for many of us is the fact that the Hurricanes missed the dance in each of the following 9 seasons.  Many nights at PNC Arena were spent looking for Rob Schneider from The Waterboy or perhaps the groundskeepers from Major League.  Yes, I’m dating myself with those references and I’m okay with that.

A lot of things went right for the Hurricanes last season, some of which were unexpected.  With teams like the Devils and New York Rangers having solid offseasons and the continued existence of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Alex Ovechkin, the Metropolitan Division won’t do the Hurricanes any favors.

While you can look at any number of factors (and we all do), I’m pinpointing 3 specific areas in which the Carolina Hurricanes need to have success to stay in the playoff race.

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