The Carolina Hurricanes (3-0-0, 6pts) are off to an excellent start. Three wins in their first three regular-season games have them sitting atop the Metro Division standings.
What’s been the formula so far? Somewhat surprisingly, it hasn’t been their even-strength play, where they have both scored and conceded six goals. Instead, the difference has been on special teams. The Canes are four out of twelve on the power play (33%), and they’ve killed off eleven of thirteen on the penalty kill (85%).
It’s a small sample size, but welcome all the same. Head coach Rod Brind’Amour noted after Sunday’s win how the power play has been vital thus far in the young season:
“That might be the whole difference in [our play] right now.