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Carolina Hurricanes: Keys to Keep Rolling Against Columbus

By Holland Bostrom

Feb 8, 2021; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) moves in for a shot against Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Michael Del Zotto (15) during the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 8, 2021; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) moves in for a shot against Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Michael Del Zotto (15) during the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 31, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Vincent Trocheck (16) and Dallas Stars center Ty Dellandrea (10) take a face off at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Vincent Trocheck (16) and Dallas Stars center Ty Dellandrea (10) take a face off at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

Turn Possession Into Offense

The Carolina Hurricanes are currently first in the Central Division and third in the NHL for their faceoff percentage at 53.6%. Jordan Staal (61.4%) and Vincent Trocheck (56.1%) have been a huge part of this success in the faceoff circle, winning possession for the Hurricanes at a high rate.

Win possession, win the game, right?

While the Canes boast an impressive faceoff unit, this hasn’t shown a noticeable transition to the scoreboard. During Carolina’s six-game road trip, they won the faceoff battle in every game, but the shots on goal ended up totaling dead-even at 178 shots-on-goal for the Canes and their opponents (29.67 per game).

While I can also chalk this up as a big reason for Staal and Trocheck’s current point production, I would love to see the wealth distributed a bit more to the first line, if at all possible.

If the Canes can find a way to sustain this success in the faceoff dot and then turn it into higher volume shooting or simply more quality chances from better possessions, the one goal losses will start to turn into overtime trips and the overtime trips will turn into regulation wins (no more dreaded three-point games).

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