Carolina Hurricanes: Keys to Game 1 vs. Nashville

Apr 15, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) fights Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm (14) during the second period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) fights Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm (14) during the second period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
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Apr 15, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) fights Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm (14) during the second period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes right wing Andrei Svechnikov (37) fights Nashville Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm (14) during the second period at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

The Carolina Hurricanes are back in black at the PNC Arena tonight as they host the Nashville Predators for Game 1 of the 2020-21 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. For the first time since relocating from Hartford, the Carolina Hurricanes have successfully made the playoffs for 3 consecutive seasons.

The Carolina Hurricanes also (for the first time since a very special year, 2005-06) captured a Division Championship, and would finish out the 2020-21 NHL regular season the 3rd best team in the NHL.

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Accolade after accolade, triumph after triumph, it has all led here: Round 1, Game 1 of the 2021 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Carolina Hurricanes have earned every single point, every single win this season, and that isn’t going to change going into the first round against an underdog team.

The Nashville Predators are scrappy, they’ve got playoff experience, a healthy mix of veterans and youth, and have one of the best defensive corps in the NHL at the moment.

This series won’t be a walk in the park by any means, but (like every one of life’s journeys), we have to start at the beginning – the keys to opening the playoffs with a win.

Schedule