Carolina Hurricanes: What went wrong this season?

RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 17: Carolina Hurricanes players unite after scoring a goal in the first period during the game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Carolina Hurricanes on March 17, 2018, at PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by William Howard/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 17: Carolina Hurricanes players unite after scoring a goal in the first period during the game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Carolina Hurricanes on March 17, 2018, at PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by William Howard/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 2: Derek Ryan #7 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates with the puck during an NHL game against the New Jersey Devils on March 2, 2018 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 2: Derek Ryan #7 of the Carolina Hurricanes skates with the puck during an NHL game against the New Jersey Devils on March 2, 2018 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)

Secondary scoring fell through

Every successful team in the NHL can rely on their secondary scoring come the stretch run of the regular season, and throughout the playoffs. Take a glimpse at the two teams that participated in the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals and see how they continue to have a solid source of secondary scoring.

Both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators are positioned well in the standings once again. Pittsburgh and Nashville also have three forward lines that are threats to put the puck in the net each game.

Beyond the Preds and the Pens, there’s other teams that the Canes could learn from. Yet, Carolina does not get much in the way of scoring this year from Derek Ryan, Victor Rask, Elias Lindholm, Brock McGinn, Justin Faulk, Joakim Nordstrom, or Phil di Giuseppe.

While you cannot put the blame on players like Nordstrom or di Giuseppe for producing at a low rate, it’d be nice if they came up big at times. Even the scoring from Jeff Skinner is down, after his career-high 37 goal mark last season.

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