RALEIGH, N.C. — College basketball is done, the Masters has been played and it’s time for what has become another rite of spring in Raleigh: the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Some spring, too.

N.C. State sent both its men’s and women’s hoops teams to the Final Four, lighting the Belltower red over and over again. Scottie Scheffler took all the suspense out of the Masters, again proving why he’s the best golfer in the world.

And the Carolina Hurricanes are in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Again.

Since Rod Brind’Amour took over as head coach, the Hurricanes have made the playoffs a perennial part of springtime in the Triangle. Brind’Amour, the captain of the 2006 Stanley Cup champions, has the Canes in the playoffs for a sixth straight season, set to pursue a second Cup for the franchise.

“It’s time to flip to playoff mode,” Brind’Amour said Tuesday as the Canes’ regular season ended.

Those college sports fans obsessing over the comings and goings of the NCAA transfer portal and who will take which NIL deals, or what conference State, Duke and North Carolina might be in one day if the ACC unravels, again can unite in being part of what has become a festive scene: tailgating and partying outside PNC Arena before playoff games and then lifting the roof in the place once the puck drops.

For those now catching up on the Canes, here are some things to know:

When do the playoffs start?

The NHL opens its playoff slate Saturday, and while complete schedules are still to be determined — with games still to be completed across the league — some game times and dates have been revealed.

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