2020–21 Carolina Hurricanes season

Season of play of professional ice hockey team

2020–21 Carolina Hurricanes
Central Division champions
Division1st Central
2020–21 record36–12–8
Home record20–3–5
Road record16–9–3
Goals for179
Goals against136
Team information
General managerDon Waddell
CoachRod Brind'Amour
CaptainJordan Staal
Alternate captainsJordan Martinook
Jaccob Slavin
ArenaPNC Arena
Minor league affiliate(s)Chicago Wolves (AHL)
Team leaders
GoalsSebastian Aho (24)
AssistsSebastian Aho (33)
PointsSebastian Aho (57)
Penalty minutesAndrei Svechnikov (44)
Plus/minusMartin Necas (+25)
WinsAlex Nedeljkovic and James Reimer (15)
Goals against averageAlex Nedeljkovic (1.90)

The 2020–21 Carolina Hurricanes season was the 42nd season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established in June 1979, and 23rd season since the franchise relocated from the Hartford Whalers to start the 1997–98 NHL season.

On December 20, 2020, the league temporarily realigned into four divisions with no conferences due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing closure of the Canada–United States border. As a result of this realignment, the Hurricanes played this season in the Central Division and only played games against the other teams in their new division during the regular season and potentially the first two rounds of the playoffs.

On April 26, the Hurricanes clinched a playoff berth after a 4–3 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars.[1] They went on to clinch their first division title since 2006.[2] They defeated the Nashville Predators in the First Round in six games,[3] but were defeated by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Second Round in five games.[4]

Standings

Central Division
Pos Team
  • v
  • t
  • e
GP W L OTL RW GF GA GD Pts
1 y – Carolina Hurricanes 56 36 12 8 27 179 136 +43 80
2 x – Florida Panthers 56 37 14 5 26 189 153 +36 79
3 x – Tampa Bay Lightning 56 36 17 3 29 181 147 +34 75
4 x – Nashville Predators 56 31 23 2 21 156 154 +2 64
5 e – Dallas Stars 56 23 19 14 17 158 154 +4 60
6 e – Chicago Blackhawks 56 24 25 7 15 161 186 −25 55
7 e – Detroit Red Wings 56 19 27 10 17 127 171 −44 48
8 e – Columbus Blue Jackets 56 18 26 12 12 137 187 −50 48
Source: National Hockey League[5]
Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
e – Eliminated from playoff contention; x – Clinched playoff spot; y – Clinched division

Schedule and results

Regular season

The regular season schedule was published on December 23, 2020.[6]

2020–21 game log
January: 5–1–0 (Home: 3–0–0 ; Road: 2–1–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
1 January 14 Carolina 3–0 Detroit Mrazek 0 1–0–0 2 [7]
2 January 16 Carolina 2–4 Detroit Mrazek 0 1–1–0 2 [8]
3 January 18 Carolina 4–2 Nashville Reimer 0 2–1–0 4 [9]
— January 19 Carolina – Nashville Postponed due to COVID-19.[10] Rescheduled for March 2.
— January 21 Florida – Carolina Postponed due to COVID-19.[11] Rescheduled for February 17.
— January 23 Florida – Carolina Postponed due to COVID-19. Rescheduled for March 7.
— January 26 Tampa Bay – Carolina Postponed due to COVID-19.[12] Rescheduled for February 22.
4 January 28 Tampa Bay 0–1 Carolina OT Mrazek 0 3–1–0 6 [13]
5 January 30 Dallas 1–4 Carolina Reimer 0 4–1–0 8 [14]
6 January 31 Dallas 3–4 Carolina SO Reimer 0 5–1–0 10 [15]
February: 8–5–1 (Home: 3–1–1 ; Road: 5–4–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
7 February 2 Carolina 4–3 Chicago SO Reimer 0 6–1–0 12 [16]
8 February 4 Carolina 4–6 Chicago Reimer 0 6–2–0 12 [17]
9 February 7 Carolina 6–5 Columbus Reimer 0 7–2–0 14 [18]
10 February 8 Carolina 2–3 Columbus Nedeljkovic 0 7–3–0 14 [19]
11 February 11 Carolina 5–3 Dallas Reimer 3,687 8–3–0 16 [20]
12 February 13 Carolina 4–3 Dallas SO Nedeljkovic 4,071 9–3–0 18 [21]
13 February 15 Columbus 3–7 Carolina Reimer 0 10–3–0 20 [22]
14 February 17 Florida 4–3 Carolina OT Nedeljkovic 0 10–3–1 21 [23]
15 February 19 Chicago 3–5 Carolina Reimer 0 11–3–1 23 [24]
16 February 20 Tampa Bay 0–4 Carolina Nedeljkovic 0 12–3–1 25 [25]
17 February 22 Tampa Bay 4–2 Carolina Reimer 0 12–4–1 25 [26]
18 February 24 Carolina 0–3 Tampa Bay Nedeljkovic 500 12–5–1 25 [27]
19 February 25 Carolina 1–3 Tampa Bay Reimer 536 12–6–1 25 [28]
20 February 27 Carolina 4–3 Florida SO Reimer 4,281 13–6–1 27 [29]
March: 10–2–2 (Home: 5–0–2 ; Road: 5–2–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
21 March 1 Carolina 3–2 Florida OT Nedeljkovic 3,817 14–6–1 29 [30]
22 March 2 Carolina 4–2 Nashville Reimer —[a] 15–6–1 31 [31]
23 March 4 Detroit 2–5 Carolina Nedeljkovic 2,924 16–6–1 33 [32]
24 March 7 Florida 2–4 Carolina Reimer 2,924 17–6–1 35 [33]
25 March 9 Nashville 2–3 Carolina OT Nedeljkovic 2,924 18–6–1 37 [34]
26 March 11 Nashville 1–5 Carolina Reimer 2,924 19–6–1 39 [35]
27 March 14 Carolina 2–1 Detroit Nedeljkovic 0 20–6–1 41 [36]
28 March 16 Carolina 2–4 Detroit Reimer 0 20–7–1 41 [37]
29 March 18 Columbus 3–2 Carolina OT Nedeljkovic 2,924 20–7–2 42 [38]
30 March 20 Columbus 3–2 Carolina SO Reimer 2,924 20–7–3 43 [39]
31 March 22 Carolina 3–0 Columbus Nedeljkovic 3,829 21–7–3 45 [40]
32 March 25 Carolina 4–3 Columbus OT Nedeljkovic 4,033 22–7–3 47 [41]
33 March 27 Tampa Bay 3–4 Carolina Reimer 4,433 23–7–3 49 [42]
34 March 30 Carolina 1–2 Chicago Nedeljkovic 0 23–8–3 49 [43]
April: 10–2–4 (Home: 6–2–1 ; Road: 4–0–3)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
35 April 1 Carolina 4–3 Chicago Reimer 0 24–8–3 51 [44]
36 April 3 Dallas 3–2 Carolina Nedeljkovic 4,987 24–9–3 51 [45]
37 April 4 Dallas 0–1 Carolina Mrazek 4,987 25–9–3 53 [46]
38 April 6 Florida 2–5 Carolina Mrazek 4,987 26–9–3 55 [47]
39 April 8 Florida 0–3 Carolina Nedeljkovic 4,987 27–9–3 57 [48]
40 April 10 Detroit 5–4 Carolina SO Mrazek 4,987 27–9–4 58 [49]
41 April 12 Detroit 3–1 Carolina Reimer 4,987 27–10–4 58 [50]
42 April 15 Nashville 1–4 Carolina Mrazek 4,987 28–10–4 60 [51]
43 April 17 Nashville 1–3 Carolina Nedeljkovic 4,987 29–10–4 62 [52]
44 April 19 Carolina 2–3 Tampa Bay OT Mrazek 3,800 29–10–5 63 [53]
45 April 20 Carolina 4–1 Tampa Bay Nedeljkovic 3,800 30–10–5 65 [54]
46 April 22 Carolina 4–2 Florida Nedeljkovic 4,683 31–10–5 67 [55]
47 April 24 Carolina 3–4 Florida OT Nedeljkovic 4,838 31–10–6 68 [56]
48 April 26 Carolina 3–4 Dallas OT Reimer 5,364 31–10–7 69 [57]
49 April 27 Carolina 5–1 Dallas Nedeljkovic 6,014 32–10–7 71 [58]
50 April 29 Detroit 1–3 Carolina Reimer 4,987 33–10–7 73 [59]
May: 3–2–1 (Home: 3–0–1 ; Road: 0–2–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap
51 May 1 Columbus 1–2 Carolina OT Nedeljkovic 4,987 34–10–7 75 [60]
52 May 3 Chicago 2–5 Carolina Nedeljkovic 4,987 35–10–7 77 [61]
53 May 4 Chicago 3–6 Carolina Mrazek 4,987 36–10–7 79 [62]
54 May 6 Chicago 2–1 Carolina OT Mrazek 4,987 36–10–8 80 [63]
55 May 8 Carolina 1–3 Nashville Nedeljkovic —[a] 36–11–8 80 [64]
56 May 10 Carolina 0–5 Nashville Mrazek —[a] 36–12–8 80 [65]

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)   Postponement

Playoffs

2021 Stanley Cup playoffs
Central Division First Round vs. (C4) Nashville Predators: Carolina won 4–2
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap
1 May 17 Nashville 2–5 Carolina Nedeljkovic 12,000 1–0 [66]
2 May 19 Nashville 0–3 Carolina Nedeljkovic 12,000 2–0 [67]
3 May 21 Carolina 4–5 Nashville 2OT Nedeljkovic 12,135 2–1 [68]
4 May 23 Carolina 3–4 Nashville 2OT Nedeljkovic 12,135 2–2 [69]
5 May 25 Nashville 2–3 Carolina OT Nedeljkovic 12,000 3–2 [70]
6 May 27 Carolina 4–3 Nashville OT Nedeljkovic 14,107 4–2 [71]
Central Division Second Round vs. (C3) Tampa Bay Lightning: Tampa Bay won 4–1
# Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap
1 May 30 Tampa Bay 2–1 Carolina Nedeljkovic 16,299 0–1 [72]
2 June 1 Tampa Bay 2–1 Carolina Nedeljkovic 16,299 0–2 [73]
3 June 3 Carolina 3–2 Tampa Bay OT Mrazek 13,544 1–2 [74]
4 June 5 Carolina 4–6 Tampa Bay Mrazek 13,773 1–3 [75]
5 June 8 Tampa Bay 2–0 Carolina Nedeljkovic 16,299 1–4 [76]

Legend:   Win   Loss

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Spectators were in attendance, but the exact number was not reported.

References

  1. ^ "Hurricanes clinch playoff berth in OT loss to Stars". NHL.com. April 26, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
  2. ^ Carolina Hurricanes clinch top seed in Central Division as Dallas beats LightningArchived 8 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Stanley, Robby (May 27, 2021). "Aho, Hurricanes eliminate Predators with Game 6 win in OT". NHL.com. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  4. ^ Dusterberg, Kurt (June 8, 2021). "Lightning eliminate Hurricanes in Game 5 of Stanley Cup Second Round". NHL.com. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  5. ^ "NHL Hockey Standings". www.nhl.com. National Hockey League.
  6. ^ "2020-21 NHL schedule announced". NHL.com. December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  7. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Detroit Red Wings - January 14th, 2021". NHL.com.
  8. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Detroit Red Wings - January 16th, 2021". NHL.com.
  9. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Nashville Predators - January 18th, 2021". NHL.com.
  10. ^ "Hurricanes-Predators game postponed due to COVID-19". NHLcom. January 19, 2021. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  11. ^ "Hurricanes games postponed through Jan. 23 because of COVID-19". NHLcom. January 20, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  12. ^ "Hurricanes' game Tuesday postponed, six rescheduled due to coronavirus". NHL.com. January 25, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  13. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Carolina Hurricanes - January 28th, 2021". NHL.com.
  14. ^ "Dallas Stars - Carolina Hurricanes - January 30th, 2021". NHL.com.
  15. ^ "Dallas Stars - Carolina Hurricanes - January 31st, 2021". NHL.com.
  16. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Chicago Blackhawks - February 2nd, 2021". NHL.com.
  17. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Chicago Blackhawks - February 4th, 2021". NHL.com.
  18. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Columbus Blue Jackets - February 7th, 2021". NHL.com.
  19. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Columbus Blue Jackets - February 8th, 2021". NHL.com.
  20. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Dallas Stars - February 11th, 2021". NHL.com.
  21. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Dallas Stars - February 13th, 2021". NHL.com.
  22. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Carolina Hurricanes - February 15th, 2021". NHL.com.
  23. ^ "Florida Panthers - Carolina Hurricanes - February 17th, 2021". NHL.com.
  24. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks - Carolina Hurricanes - February 19th, 2021". NHL.com.
  25. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Carolina Hurricanes - February 20th, 2021". NHL.com.
  26. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Carolina Hurricanes - February 22nd, 2021". NHL.com.
  27. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Tampa Bay Lightning - February 24th, 2021". NHL.com.
  28. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Tampa Bay Lightning - February 25th, 2021". NHL.com.
  29. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Florida Panthers - February 27th, 2021". NHL.com.
  30. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Florida Panthers - March 1st, 2021". NHL.com.
  31. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Nashville Predators - March 2nd, 2021". NHL.com.
  32. ^ "Detroit Red Wings - Carolina Hurricanes - March 4th, 2021". NHL.com.
  33. ^ "Florida Panthers - Carolina Hurricanes - March 7th, 2021". NHL.com.
  34. ^ "Nashville Predators - Carolina Hurricanes - March 9th, 2021". NHL.com.
  35. ^ "Nashville Predators - Carolina Hurricanes - March 11th, 2021". NHL.com.
  36. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Detroit Red Wings - March 14th, 2021". NHL.com.
  37. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Detroit Red Wings - March 16th, 2021". NHL.com.
  38. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Carolina Hurricanes - March 18th, 2021". NHL.com.
  39. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Carolina Hurricanes - March 20th, 2021". NHL.com.
  40. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Columbus Blue Jackets - March 22nd, 2021". NHL.com.
  41. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Columbus Blue Jackets - March 25th, 2021". NHL.com.
  42. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Carolina Hurricanes - March 27th, 2021". NHL.com.
  43. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Chicago Blackhawks - March 30th, 2021". NHL.com.
  44. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Chicago Blackhawks - April 1st, 2021". NHL.com.
  45. ^ "Dallas Stars - Carolina Hurricanes - April 3rd, 2021". NHL.com.
  46. ^ "Dallas Stars - Carolina Hurricanes - April 4th, 2021". NHL.com.
  47. ^ "Florida Panthers - Carolina Hurricanes - April 6th, 2021". NHL.com.
  48. ^ "Florida Panthers - Carolina Hurricanes - April 8th, 2021". NHL.com.
  49. ^ "Detroit Red Wings - Carolina Hurricanes - April 10th, 2021". NHL.com.
  50. ^ "Detroit Red Wings - Carolina Hurricanes - April 12th, 2021". NHL.com.
  51. ^ "Nashville Predators - Carolina Hurricanes - April 15th, 2021". NHL.com.
  52. ^ "Nashville Predators - Carolina Hurricanes - April 17th, 2021". NHL.com.
  53. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Tampa Bay Lightning - April 19th, 2021". NHL.com.
  54. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Tampa Bay Lightning - April 20th, 2021". NHL.com.
  55. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Florida Panthers - April 22nd, 2021". NHL.com.
  56. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Florida Panthers - April 24th, 2021". NHL.com.
  57. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Dallas Stars - April 26th, 2021". NHL.com.
  58. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Dallas Stars - April 27th, 2021". NHL.com.
  59. ^ "Detroit Red Wings - Carolina Hurricanes - April 29th, 2021". NHL.com.
  60. ^ "Columbus Blue Jackets - Carolina Hurricanes - May 1st, 2021". NHL.com.
  61. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks - Carolina Hurricanes - May 3rd, 2021". NHL.com.
  62. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks - Carolina Hurricanes - May 4th, 2021". NHL.com.
  63. ^ "Chicago Blackhawks - Carolina Hurricanes - May 6th, 2021". NHL.com.
  64. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Nashville Predators - May 8th, 2021". NHL.com.
  65. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Nashville Predators - May 10th, 2021". NHL.com.
  66. ^ "Nashville Predators - Carolina Hurricanes - May 17th, 2021". NHL.com.
  67. ^ "Nashville Predators - Carolina Hurricanes - May 19th, 2021". NHL.com.
  68. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Nashville Predators - May 21st, 2021". NHL.com.
  69. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Nashville Predators - May 23rd, 2021". NHL.com.
  70. ^ "Nashville Predators - Carolina Hurricanes - May 25th, 2021". NHL.com.
  71. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Nashville Predators - May 27th, 2021". NHL.com.
  72. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Carolina Hurricanes - May 30th, 2021". NHL.com.
  73. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Carolina Hurricanes - June 1st, 2021". NHL.com.
  74. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Tampa Bay Lightning - June 3rd, 2021". NHL.com.
  75. ^ "Carolina Hurricanes - Tampa Bay Lightning - June 5th, 2021". NHL.com.
  76. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Carolina Hurricanes - June 8th, 2021". NHL.com.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Pre-1997
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Highlighted seasons indicate Stanley Cup championship