2019 began with the Carolina Hurricanes in second to last place in the NHL, and that familiar sense of disappointment fell over the fan base as it had for the past decade. But then something changed. The team started winning, and with that came a renewed sense of excitement from the fans.
This continued to grow and grow as last season went on. More fans started coming to games at PNC Arena as the season continued. The storm surge became a viral phenomenon, despite the backlash from traditionalist boomers. All this coupled with a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals made the first half of the year one to remember.