The Metro Division is the tightest and most dangerous division in the league right now. Chances are that there will be a team that will sit sixth in the division and miss the playoffs that would have sat in an automatic playoff spot in any of the other three divisions. Every team in the division, including the Carolina Hurricanes, is desperate to not be that team.
With only ten points separating the division leading Washington Capitals and the current sixth place holder Hurricanes, the race cannot be tighter as there are no more than 28 games left for any of these teams this season.