at Carolina Hurricanes, November 4th/7pm ESPN+/Hulu
The Hurricanes were one of the toughest teams in the NHL last season. This year, it appears they have gotten better with their eyes set on winning a Stanley Cup as one of the Eastern Conference’s top franchises. And despite yet another gap in experience, the Buffalo Sabres have an opportunity just 48 hours after their tilt vs the Penguins to pull off a massive upset on the national stage.
And for a fun fact, the Jack Eichel Trade helped indirectly contribute to the mighty Hurricanes roster in 2022-23 when they traded future considerations to the Vegas Golden Knights for Max Pacioretty and Dylan Coghlan. The trade showed the extent of the cap trouble Vegas found themselves in less than a year after acquiring Eichel.
While Pacioretty (Achilles) won’t be playing in this one, it still doesn’t blemish just how much of an opportunity it is for the Sabres to knock off what may be the Eastern Conference’s most dangerous team. If they can get a win against Pittsburgh, Carolina, or both teams, it will set the stage for a strong November 2022.