Dallas Stars (4-1-0) at Carolina Hurricanes (4-1-0)
The schedule coming out of a COVID-imposed hiatus seemingly did the Carolina Hurricanes no favors: three games against the two teams that played for the Stanley Cup just a few months ago. With little practice time and a good bit of rust, the thinking went, this would be a rough few days, and in a season where every loss holds outsized importance in the playoff race, the Hurricanes could quickly find themselves looking up in the division standings.
And then the Hurricanes did what everyone expected: shut out the Lightning and waxed the floor with the Stars.