Yesterday afternoon at 4pm, the Canes, along with 29 other teams, released their schedules for the 2014-15 season. In true NHL fashion, the league stole the thunder from teams by making schedules publicly available on their website before the countdown to 4pm hit zero. Thanks, Obama! There’s a lot to like on the schedule, and I think it sets up quite nicely to give the boys a good chance to make the postseason (roster moves/coaching aside). Mike Smith broke down the schedule very professionally, but let’s see what’s really in store for the team and its fans this season.
October:
The Canes are notorious for getting off to slow starts, and apparently have reached out to the league for a little assistance. Of the 8 games in October, only ONE of the Canes’ opponents (Rangers) made the 2014 playoffs. In addition to being able to rack up a bunch of wins against fellow draft lottery veterans like Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg, we also get to take a full day off of work PLUS have the weekend to recover from opening night against the John Tavares Experience. Then just a few days later, we’ll see an increased police presence in the PNC Arena when Buffalo and all their drunk, classless, championship-free fans come to town. It’s going to be a great month!
November:
Business picks up after Halloween, as 11 of the Canes 15 games come against playoff teams, including 2 games against the Kings. The second month of the season also might see the Canes on national TV against the Panthers on 11/26 for Wednesday Night Rivalry game. If that ends up being the case, we look forward to enjoying all the “Ratings Poison” articles that will surely flood the internet. November will also see the Canes play their 2nd (and final) 5-game road trip, but unlike the one in October, they will play good teams on this one. Just to make things even more interesting, the month comes to a close with a home-and-home series (including Saturday for tailgating) against the NWO Penguins.
December:
The final month of 2014 starts off with the remaining 4 games of a 5-game homestand. In those 4 games, we get to drool over see Shea Weber and Seth Jones, Alex Ovechkin, Bill Peters’ old team, and then not get to make jokes about Brodeur’s faithfulness against the Devils. Beyond that, it feels like an old school Eastern Conference slate as the Canes play the Lightning (twice), Canadiens (twice), Devils (again), Flyers, Rangers, and Maple Leafs before finishing the month against the Penguins (again). There’s a New Years Eve game, but it’s in Pittsburgh, so we’ll all have to find other places to get hammered.
January:
What better way to cure a hangover than home games on Friday and Sunday against the Flyers and Bruins? I can’t think of one unless someone is offering to bring me Bojangles. Beyond those games, January sees the return of the Sabres, as well as visits from Tampa, St. Louis, Vancouver, and the team I personally can’t wait to watch: Colorado. Unfortunately, there are no home games on a Saturday, so the potential for an all-day snowgate are out.
February:
The shortest month of the year, and one that Cam Ward can’t really celebrate his birthday in, kicks off with a Pacific Time Zone tour against Phoenix Arizona, Anaheim, and San Jose. Then the first game back at home… Anaheim! Hope you like early onset male pattern baldness, because you’re gonna see a lot of it in early February. Mercifully, there are games against Ottawa, New Jersey, and 2 more games against the Islanders to help pad the schedule heading into March.
March:
Clear your calendars now, because there are an AMAZING eleven home games in March. Between 3/6 and 3/14, there’s a home game every other day, including 2 weekend (see: tailgating) dates. Of the two 5-game homestands in March, the 1st one (Wild, Oilers, Blue Jackets, Stars, Panthers) is the less sexy of the pair, unless Taylor Hall is your thing. The second 5-game homestand will be played against the Rangers, Blackhawks, Penguins, Devils, and Bruins. Go ahead and let your employer know not to schedule you for any business trips that month.
April:
The regular season comes to a close, and hopefully, DEAR GOD HOPEFULLY, game 82 won’t be the end of the campaign for the Canes. There are 6 games on the schedule in April, including chances to rack up points against Florida and Buffalo, then 2 games a piece against Philly and Detroit. Bad news: 4 of the 6 games are on the road; good news: both home games are on Saturday, including the regular season finale vs. the Wings.
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Starting off the season with a pretty friendly October against some less-than-great teams, and getting to play a Costco Value Pack of home games in March looks very favorable for the Canes. Looking great for the fans is the 14 home games on Saturday/Sunday. It all gets rolling on October 10th, and yes, you need that day off of work.
Section 328 
Okay, two things: that Jim Rutherford pic is hilarious; you should probably also be tracking Patrick Kane’s hairstyle evolution.
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