This article is written by guest writer and my friend Matt from CanesandCoffee.com.

After​ ​a​ ​quiet​ ​TV​ ​start​ ​the​ ​the​ ​Carolina​ ​Hurricanes​ ​season​ ​with​ ​6​ ​straight​ ​games​ ​on​ ​the​ ​road during​ ​the​ ​North​ ​Carolina​ ​State​ ​Fair,​ ​the​ ​Carolina​ ​Hurricanes​ ​will​ ​kick​ ​off​ ​their​ ​home​ ​season​ ​at PNC​ ​Arena​ ​on​ ​Friday​ ​night​ ​(October​ ​28)​ ​against​ ​the​ ​New​ ​York​ ​Rangers.

The​ ​Hurricanes​ ​are​ ​coming​ ​off​ ​an​ ​improved​ ​2015-16​ ​season​ ​and​ ​enter​ ​the​ ​2016-17​ ​season​ ​with a​ ​team​ ​filled​ ​with​ ​youth.​ ​The​ ​team​ ​features​ ​2​ ​players​ ​under​ ​20​ ​years​ ​old​ ​and​ ​6​ ​more​ ​players​ ​who are​ ​24​ ​or​ ​younger.​ ​The​ ​combination​ ​of​ ​youth​ ​and​ ​and​ ​improved​ ​play​ ​during​ ​the​ ​2015-16​ ​season bodes​ ​well​ ​for​ ​a​ ​return​ ​to​ ​the​ ​NHL​ ​playoffs​ ​in​ ​the​ ​near​ ​future.

You​ ​can​ ​find​ ​a​ ​​preview​ ​for​ ​the​ ​2016-17​ ​season​ ​​at​ ​Canes​ ​and​ ​Coffee​​ ​that​ ​identifies​ ​5​ ​keys for​ ​the​ ​Hurricanes​ ​to​ ​push​ ​back​ ​into​ ​the​ ​NHL​ ​playoffs.

For​ ​those​ ​looking​ ​to​ ​plan​ ​a​ ​trip​ ​or​ ​two​ ​to​ ​PNC​ ​Arena​ ​to​ ​cheer​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Carolina​ ​Hurricanes,​ ​here​ ​is a​ ​quick​ ​list​ ​of​ ​great​ ​games​ ​to​ ​target​ ​through​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​2016:

• Friday,​ ​October​ ​28​ ​vs.​ ​New​ ​York​ ​Rangers:​ ​​The​ ​home​ ​opener​ ​will​ ​include​ ​a​ ​South​ ​Plaza​ ​Party with​ ​live​ ​music​ ​and​ ​games,​ ​and​ ​everyone​ ​who​ ​attends​ ​the​ ​home​ ​opener​ ​will​ ​receive​ ​a​ ​pretty sweet​ ​Canes​ ​hat.​ ​​Details​ ​for​ ​the​ ​home​ ​opener,​ ​festivities​ ​and​ ​giveaway​ ​are​ ​HERE.
• Saturday,​ ​November​ ​12​ ​vs.​ ​Washington​ ​Capitals​:​ ​This​ ​early-season​ ​will​ ​include​ ​Veterans Day​ ​Appreciation​ ​and​ ​is​ ​also​ ​the​ ​first​ ​visit​ ​of​ ​the​ ​season​ ​by​ ​Alexander​ ​Ovechkin​ ​and​ ​the long-time​ ​division​ ​rival​ ​Capitals.
• Friday,​ ​November​ ​18​ ​vs.​ ​Montreal​ ​Canadiens​:​ ​This​ ​game​ ​is​ ​the​ ​first​ ​in​ ​a​ ​brand​ ​new “Hurricanes​ ​Homegrown​ ​Series”​ ​that​ ​will​ ​feature​ ​local​ ​beer,​ ​art,​ ​food​ ​and​ ​live​ ​music​ ​during​ ​the​ ​2 intermissions.​ ​​You​ ​can​ ​learn​ ​more​ ​about​ ​the​ ​“Homegrown”​ ​series​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Hurricanes​ ​web​ ​site.
• Friday,​ ​December​ ​23​ ​vs.​ ​Boston​ ​Bruins​:​ ​This​ ​match​ ​up​ ​at​ ​the​ ​front​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​winter​ ​holiday season​ ​is​ ​a​ ​great​ ​way​ ​to​ ​catch​ ​holiday​ ​Hurricanes​ ​hockey​ ​either​ ​with​ ​relatives​ ​or​ ​just​ ​before​ ​they arrive​ ​to​ ​visit.
• Friday,​ ​December​ ​30​ ​vs.​ ​Chicago​ ​Blackhawks​:​ ​This​ ​holiday​ ​season​ ​game​ ​features​ ​the high-powered​ ​Blackhawks​ ​and​ ​also​ ​the​ ​second​ ​installment​ ​of​ ​the​ ​“Hurricanes​ ​Homegrown
  Series.”​ ​(see​ ​above)

To​ ​track​ ​the​ ​Carolina​ ​Hurricanes​ ​during​ ​the​ ​2016-17,​ ​​please​ ​check​ ​out​ ​Canes​ ​and​ ​Coffee​ ​​which is​ ​a​ ​local,​ ​independent​ ​website​ ​that​ ​provides​ ​daily​ ​coverage​ ​of​ ​Carolina​ ​Hurricanes​ ​hockey.