While six teams remain in viable contention for the Eastern Conference's final wild-card spot in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, there is some excitement happening at the other end of the playoff-bound spectrum.
Specifically, can the Carolina Hurricanes go on enough of a run in their final 15 games to earn the No. 1 spot in the Metro ahead of the New York Rangers -- or even the top position in the conference, beyond the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins?
The Canes made trades with divisional rivals in acquiring winger Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov, and the early returns have been encouraging: Kuznetsov had a goal and Guentzel had an assist in Carolina's 4-0 trouncing of the Panthers on Thursday.