The first eight days of the 2019-20 NHL season brought more hope to a fanbase that already had increased expectations. After a dominant second half and a run to the Eastern Conference Finals, Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell tweaked the roster in an effort to maximize results.
The Hurricanes found ways to win, including overtime victories against the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning. In the latter, Carolina held a potent Lightning team to only 13 shots. Things were looking good as the Hurricanes came into a matchup against a Columbus team that suffered an exodus of talent over the summer.