This is Charlotte's annual reminder that NC's best sport is hockey

Dear Charlotte, if you're feeling disheartened about our dissatisfying sports teams, look no farther than a little north.

Why it matters: The Carolina Hurricanes are on fire in Raleigh again this year and look Stanley Cup-bound. It would be the team's first trophy since 2006.

The intrigue: The Canes are the only men's major league team in North Carolina to ever win a championship.

Driving the news: Tuesday night, the Hurricanes took down the New York Islanders in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs first round. They now face the New York Rangers in Round 2.

Catch up quick: If you are just now deciding to jump on the bandwagon, here are some standout moments so far in the series.

• When the Hurricanes did what they needed to do and scored two goals in nine seconds. Then, they did it again in eight seconds.
• When Evgeny Kuznetsov circled the ice like a shark before making this nasty goal.
• When Stefan Noesen embarrassed all of Long Island in a glove-dropping fight. And this looked like it hurt, too.

What they're saying: "Always appreciate the @NYIslanders for the Stanley Cup playoff warm up," Gov. Roy Cooper savagely remarked on X.

What's next: The next round starts in New York. It's not scheduled yet, but tickets are on sale .

• You can catch games at Wooden Robot Brewery, an official Canes bar.
• 704 Storm Chasers posts about fan meetups on Instagram.