I'm sure that I've mentioned at some point over the last few years that I'm a numbers guy. While they don't tell the entire story, numbers give us a very good indicator of how things are going. For the Carolina Hurricanes, through the first month, the numbers certainly don't lie. Most of them have been very good, which trends the same way as the Hurricanes.
Below are six numbers that show how things are going for the Canes right now. They've played 15 games, sitting at the top of the Metropolitan Division, the Eastern Conference, and the NHL at 11-2-2. The Cup Hangover didn't bother them much at the start of the season. It's still early, yet you have to feel pretty good about where the Canes are.
2.33
Let's start with something simple. The Hurricanes' defense has been very good, sitting tied for third in goals allowed per game. Returning five of their six defensemen from the Stanley Cup team, the Canes allowed two or fewer goals in 10 of their 15 games. Naturally, their record has been very good in those games, going 9-0-1, with the lone loss being their Opening Night 1-0 overtime loss to Florida.
Pyotr Kochetkov, who is enjoying a franchise-record 9-0-0 start to the season, has posted a 1.66 GAA through his nine starts, fourth in the NHL, allowing two goals or fewer eight times. The defense, more often than not, has shown up. However, even when they've been a little porous, the Canes are still .500 (2-2-1) in games they have allowed three goals or more.
45.7%
While the defense has been strong, so too has the offense. The Canes are fourth in the NHL in goals per game (3.73) and tied for the most goals with the Toronto Maple Leafs (56). 12 Hurricanes have multiple goals, led by Logan Stankoven (9), Sebastian Aho (8), and Mark Jankowski (7). Of course, that means that the puck has spent a lot of time in the offensive zone.
This isn't anything new for the Canes. Since NHL EDGE has tracked zone times in 2021-22, no team has owned the puck in the offensive zone more than Carolina. This year, the Canes are 2.1 percent better than anyone else. At even strength, the numbers are very similar. They aren't reinventing the wheel. The more the puck is in the offensive zone, the more likely you are to score.
.833
October is often a road-heavy month for the Hurricanes because of the State Fair coming to Raleigh. This year was no exception. The Canes played nine of their first 13 games away from the Lenovo Center, including five during the Fair. Only the Panthers and the Wild played more road games (10), but the Canes outperformed both by a considerable amount.
The Canes went 7-1-1, earning 15 of 18 possible points. The team set a franchise record by winning their first five road games, besting the mark set by the 2021-22 team. Their points percentage is beaten only by the Edmonton Oilers (5-0-0), though they still have a road contest on Saturday. Winning away from home is tough, so the Canes' ability to get it done has set them up nicely.
18.5% & 73.1%
While the majority of their start has been excellent, there are a few things that need to improve. Part of the reason these numbers are the way they are is the injury to Jordan Staal. The Canes' captain touches just about every facet of the team. These two numbers represent the team's power play and penalty kill since Staal's injury on October 11.
Through six games, the Canes were rolling on the power play. However, the Canes have had just five power-play goals since the second Philadelphia game. The penalty kill has trended the same way. After starting 23-for-25, the kill has truly missed its anchor. They've allowed at least one power-play goal in five of their last six games.
49.0%
A big reason for the drop in these numbers has been their performance in the face-off circle. As a team, the Canes are under 50 percent since Staal's injury, though not by much. There have been some highlights. Aho has won 53.8 percent. Jankowski, who missed four games, is also on the right side of even. Stankoven, while below 50 percent, has improved.
However, the Canes are struggling to begin the power play in the offensive zone (47.5 percent, 25th), and they're even worse on the penalty kill (37.5 percent, 28th). Stankoven has actually been the team's best at both strengths, though in limited opportunities. Aho (46.3% on the power play) and Jankowski (38.1% on the penalty kill) need to be better, especially as the team's go-to guys
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