In the past few years, a matchup between the Arizona Coyotes and Carolina Hurricanes wouldn’t elicit much intrigue.
But things are different this season. Both teams have undergone huge changes and are on the upswing, and each has a chance for a breakout season with the potential of a long-awaited playoff berth waiting at the end of the tunnel.
For two teams in non-traditional hockey markets with just four divisional championships between them, the Coyotes and Hurricanes each seem to be well on their way toward building consistent contenders.
And on Friday night, fans at Gila River Arena will get a chance to see two of the NHL’s most underrated teams do battle in the early going of the 2018-19 season.