Hurricanes 2016-17 regular-season schedule begins on the road

Chris Baird, Triangle Sports Network
Chris Baird, Triangle Sports Network
Chris Baird, Triangle Sports Network

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes will open their 82-game National Hockey League (NHL) 2016-2017 schedule Thurs., Oct. 13 when they visit the Winnipeg Jets, and won’t play their first home game until Fri., Oct. 28, when they host the New York Rangers.

Carolina Hurricanes – 2016-2017 Schedule

The Hurricanes’ schedule, as announced on Tuesday, will take the team on the road for an initial six-game segment, Oct. 13-26, as a result of the North Carolina State Fair taking place during that time.

The team then returns to Raleigh for a two-game home stand headlined by the match-up with the Rangers followed by a Sunday dinner meeting with the Philadelphia Flyers.

In November, the team will play seven games at PNC Arena, including five straight from Nov. 10-20, highlighted by a mid-month clash with the Stanley Cup-finalist San Jose Sharks.

December will feature another seven home games, including visits from the Tampa Bay Lightning (Dec. 4), Washington Capitals (Dec. 16), Detroit Red Wings (Dec. 19), Boston Bruins (Dec. 23) and Chicago Blackhawks (Dec. 30).

In 2017, the Hurricanes will welcome five Metropolitan Division opponents in January, including the 2016 Stanley Cup-champion Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 20.

Carolina will play 18 home games in February, March and April following the NHL All-Star break (Jan. 28-29), with the regular-season ending at home on Apr. 8th against the St. Louis Blues.

Notes: Of the Hurricanes’ 41 home games, 26 take place on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays…The team will play 16 sets of back-to-back games – the same number its played in each of the last two seasons.