The Carolina Hurricanes’ Early Power Play Results Are In

With an influx of new talent, the Carolina Hurricanes hope to improve on their middling power play.  With the first weekend of the season in the books, we take a look at the early results.

After finishing the 2018-19 season with the 20th ranked power play in the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes have undergone a bit of a transformation.  Longtime power-play quarterback Justin Faulk is out; offensively-inclined rearguard Jake Gardiner is in. Oh yeah, Dougie Hamilton, who turned in a career-best 18 goals last season, is manning the point, too.

Up front, Micheal Ferland (6 PPG last season) left for Vancouver and Justin Williams (9 PPG last season) decided to take some time away from hockey. To help offset these moves, GM Don Waddell used a variety of options: trade (Erik Haula), free agency (Ryan Dzingel), and promotion (Martin Necas).

While Haula lost most of last year to injury, 12 of his 29 goals in 2017-18 were scored on the man advantage while 5 of Dzingel’s 26 goals came that way.  Necas, poised for his first real taste of NHL action after appearing in 8 games over the past 2 seasons, potted 5 of his 16 goals on the power play for the Charlotte Checkers last year.

So, how have the new-look Hurricanes fared on the power play so far this season?  Let’s take a look.

Game 1: Montreal Canadiens

Power play conversion: 1-for-3 (33%)

The Hurricanes were still a bit of a mixed bag on Thursday night, though the effort was visible.  Passes, while not perfect, looked sharp. When they were able to maintain possession, their puck movement was good. There were still a few telegraphed plays, but there were signs of improvement.

With Montreal shorthanded following a faceoff violation, the Carolina Hurricanes set to work. While not played without fault, they managed to pressure the Canadiens late. With crisp passing opening up a lane, Hamilton fired a one-timer on net that Necas deftly deflected past Carey Price, putting the Hurricanes up 2-0.

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The Carolina Hurricanes power play showed much-needed signs of life in the season opener, but could they carry that momentum forward?

Game 2: Washington Capitals

Power play conversion: 1-for-4 (25%)

This much-anticipated rematch from last spring’s playoffs didn’t start well for the Carolina Hurricanes or their power play. Their first man-advantage opportunity yielded decent puck movement early, and a tricky shot from Sebastian Aho that tested Capitals’ goaltender Braden Holtby. It also saw Washington winger Tom Wilson get a good shorthanded opportunity that was thwarted by James Reimer. All of that occurred before the power play was cut short by an interference call against Haula.

The Hurricanes got their next chance in period two. Despite winning the faceoff and displaying some solid initial possession, Carolina made too many poor passes and was kept to the perimeter.  An offsides call late in the power play quashed any hope of setting up again, giving the Capitals momentum coming off of the kill.

In the third period, with the Hurricanes trailing 2-0, the boys from Raleigh received another shot at life when Radko Gudas was called for interference. This power play showed some beautiful passing with Teuvo Teravainen finding Haula on the doorstep, giving him his second goal in as many games.

Their final opportunity of the night came less than five minutes later.  Honestly, that’s really all there is to say. The Carolina Hurricanes were completely unable to set up in the offensive zone, and the Capitals ended up with a shorthanded 2-on-1 that failed to produce a shot.

Yes, the Hurricanes displayed some phenomenal passing which led to a very important goal, but they showed many of the negative traits that have long plagued them.  There were too many rushed and telegraphed passes.  They didn’t create many openings to exploit and they didn’t give the penalty killers too much grief overall.  Thankfully, it didn’t derail them.

Game 3: Tampa Bay Lightning

Power play conversion: 2-for-5 (40%)

Tampa Bay set the power play tone early, taking just five seconds to score on their first opportunity.  A little over five minutes later, the Hurricanes got their first chance, and it was painful to watch. Bad passing led to easy clears for the Lightning, and the home team looked completely discombobulated. They were able to muster a brief setup in the second half of the penalty, but failed to come close to capitalizing.

The second power play, coming just past the midway point of period two, was much better.  The Hurricanes won the draw and executed sharp passing, hemming Tampa Bay in.  Hamilton fired a shot from the point that was stopped by former Carolina netminder Curtis McElhinney. Haula, once again at the front of the net, knocked home the rebound for his third goal of the season.  The Hurricanes would get one additional power play in the period, though it was negated when Teuvo Teravainen took a tripping call just ten seconds in.

Carolina received their fourth man advantage opportunity 12:26 into the third, with Tampa defenseman Braydon Coburn called for hooking.  The Hurricanes wasted no time, winning the draw and setting up a shot from Hamilton that beat McElhinney 22 seconds into the penalty, tying the game at 3.

The fifth and final chance came late in regulation and carried into overtime.  The Hurricanes’ passes were sloppy and they were unable to gain entry until late in the power play. Once they did, they managed a few solid passes and a good shot from Teravainen that was stopped by the Tampa Bay netminder.