It is an incredibly exciting time to be a Carolina Hurricanes fan! With the playoffs just around the corner, Carolina is sitting in a fantastic spot. Here are the key stories surrounding the team and their upcoming schedule for the week of March 23-30, 2026.
Cruising Atop the Metro
The Hurricanes are dominating the Metropolitan Division. Following a commanding 5-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins yesterday (March 22), where Seth Jarvis tallied three points, Carolina now holds a massive 10-point lead over Pittsburgh for first place in the division.
Head coach Rod Brind’Amour is keeping the locker room grounded, publicly stating that the team isn’t looking at the standings and is just focused on building momentum for a deep playoff run.
Bussi Holding the Fort
With the playoffs looming, goaltender Brandon Bussi is proving his recent three-year contract extension was money well spent. He made 23 saves in the win against the Toronto Maple Leafs and has been the steady hand the team needed to maintain their elite defensive metrics.
Nikishin Making Waves
Highly anticipated Russian defenseman Alexander Nikishin is officially making his mark on North American ice. He scored the overtime winner against Toronto on March 20. He currently ranks second among rookie defensemen in the league with 10 goals and 28 points.
Nikishin’s physical, two-way play has stabilized the bottom pair and given the Canes a weapon they’ve needed for many years.
Blue Line Health
Health is always the biggest storyline heading into April. The team is continuing to monitor the blue line after Shayne Gostisbehere exited a game against the Edmonton Oilers earlier in the month with a lower-body injury.
Hurricanes Upcoming Schedule
The Hurricanes have a slightly lighter week ahead. A few days of rest in the middle of the week will be highly valuable before they return to Raleigh for a weekend back-to-back.
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time (EDT) |
| Tuesday, March 24 | @ Montreal Canadiens | Centre Bell | 7:00 PM |
| Saturday, March 28 | vs. New Jersey Devils | Lenovo Center | 5:00 PM |
| Sunday, March 29 | vs. Montreal Canadiens | Lenovo Center | 5:00 PM |
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