Carolina Hurricanes: The Invisible Viper in the Dressing Room

Multiple Carolina Hurricanes have found themselves looking at underlying numbers wondering what’s gone wrong, but how can they turn it around?

The Carolina Hurricanes currently lead the league in expected goals for. The only other team within shouting distance is the Vegas Golden Knights. They have the best D core in the league on paper, and their goal-tending has extremely good underlying numbers. But there are still some people who just cannot get the ball (err.. puck) going.

Number one is a nice and easy one. Jake Gardiner. He has one of the highest expected goals for among players in the NHL, especially defenders, yet cannot seem to find the back of the net. He has recorded only 13 points this season and is only shooting at 5.1%. He’s generating chances, yet just cannot find the finishing touch in his game to find the twine behind a goaltender.

Next up is Jordan Martinook. The Marty-man has recorded 2 goals and 8 assists this season and is only shooting 6.1%. Martinook has a positive expected goals for, and a negative actual goals for. This shows that his production is below a fair representitive of his skill level. Martinook actually has very good all around analytics. Only the finish escapes the alternate capitan.

El Nino…. my word does this man have some bad luck. Nino Niederreiter cannot buy himself a goal. Again with an expected goals for over 2 averaging per game, and yet he only has 6 goals on the year. He’s only shooting at 7.1%. He just cannot put the puck in the net right now to save his life. Nino just needs to bag a couple and the rest will come.

Someone who has great underlying defensive numbers, but cannot seem to sort his feet out defensively is Trevor van Riemsdyk. TVR has been a great player defensively for years, but coming off a shoulder injury, he hasn’t quite has the base numbers to back it up. Looking at his Corsi against and expected goals against, he’s still playing at that great level he was before his injury.

Just having a quick look up and down the roster shows that there are stuck in a rut, and just cannot get going right now. As good as the Canes have been, there is more room for improvement. Certain players still have more to offer to get the best out of the 22 players on the roster.