Canes 2010-2011 schedule

Wow -first 7 games on the road. First 2 in Finland.

Canes' 2010-2011 schedule announced

The Carolina Hurricanes are determined not to repeat last year's stumbling start in the 2010-2011 season. If so, they'll have to win on the road.

The NHL released its 2010-2011 schedule today and the Canes -- the last team in the league to win a road game last season -- will play their first seven games away from Raleigh. The first two games will be against the Minnesota Wild in Helsinki, Finland, in the Compuware NHL Premiere, followed by games at Ottawa, Vancouver, San Jose, Los Angeles and Phoenix once the Hurricanes return to North America.

The home opener at the RBC Center is Oct. 27 against the Washington Capitals, although the second game in Finland is designated a "home" game. Nine of the first 11 games are away from Raleigh.

"There's a lot of talk about us being a younger team. and there's a lot of truth to that, so this could be a plus for us," Canes coach Paul Maurice said today. "To get together and travel together early could be a good thing for us. Obviously it's not an easy schedule, but they never are. We might as well face it right away.

"Every team has to create a new identity every year. With a young team, this could be a real good thing."

Other highlights of the schedule include:

-- a New Year's Day home game against New Jersey, a franchise first. No New Year's Eve game, though.

-- the All-Star Game Weekend, Jan. 29-30.

-- March 4 at Chicago against the Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks.

-- 21 back-to-backs, with 19 involving travel.

-- April 9, the last regular season game, at home against Tampa Bay.

 

Dang, I probably won't make the first couple of games.

 

Unfortunately I was too much busy with my office routine and missed the chance to participate in this tremendous event Just got the extraordinary coverage in sports centre and sports news.