Carolina Hurricanes' Power Play Surging into NHL's Elite

The Carolina Hurricanes are currently on track to finish in the NHL's top 10 in both power play and penalty kill efficiency for the first time in 14 years.

After a 3-for-5 effort on Sunday, the 'Canes man-advantage unit cracked the league's upper third for the first time this season. The unit, which has been steadily improving for months, played a critical role in Carolina's stretch of six consecutive goals to erase a 3-0 deficit.

USA TODAY Sports

Sporting a 19.5 percent overall conversion rate for the 2014-15 season, the power play has operated at a 28.8 percent clip since the All-Star break and a 34.4 percent rate over the team's last 10 games. The 'Canes have tallied multiple power play scores in four of those 10 contests, winning all four.

The league-leading penalty kill has been a story for most of the season—so much that even the Oilers' surprising 2-for-3 performance against it still failed to knock it out of the top ranking in the NHL.

The rise of the other special teams group, however, could result in the team's first representation in the top 10 of both categories since 2000-01.

Thanks to the diligent work of assistant coach Rod Brind'Amour, the 'Canes power play has discovered at last the importance of a net-front presence and found productivity through cross-ice passing.

Net Front Presence

Jordan Staal has been a massive game changer for the 'Canes ever since his December return from injury, but No. 11's screen of Edmonton goalie Richard Bachman on Sunday demonstrated just how obstructive the 6'4", 220-pound hulk can be.

Credit: Fox Sports Carolinas

It's hardly a wonder that Jeff Skinner was able to snipe his wrister into the open corner for Carolina's third consecutive power play goal.

It's also hardly a wonder that the 'Canes power play scores 9.9 goals per 60 minutes when Jordan Staal is on the ice and just 5.6 goals per 60 minutes when he's not (per Hockey Analysis data).

Creating Isolation on One Side

One period before Skinner scored past Staal's screen to put the 'Canes ahead 5-3, he had tied the game on the 5-on-3 after the 'Canes created a ridiculous amount of open space on Bachman's glove side.

After working it down low, Elias Lindholm (with the puck) had an open Eric Staal in the slot, a very open Victor Rask on the opposite half-wall and an extremely open Skinner right across the goalmouth.

Credit: Fox Sports Carolinas

The Oilers defended this particular play quite poorly, but the ability to draw penalty killers all across an invisible line vertically down the middle of the rink before burning them on the opposite side has become a 'Canes specialty over the past month.

Implementing Both at the Same Time

The 'Canes ran basically the exact same play twice against the Islanders late last month and scored on it both times.

The following images are from different situations, but both times the 'Canes had a man screening then-Isles netminder Chad Johnson from the pass and a defenseman pinching on the opposite side for what became two tap-in goals.

Credit: MSG Network

Credit: MSG Network

Michal Jordan's only other career goal came a week prior against the Senators, when he was found streaking wide open down the left side for an easy power-play conversion. Again, note the clear line formed when the 'Canes power play sucked opposing killers into a misbalanced formation.

Credit: TSN

Then, of course, there are also moments like this, which the Flyers might've slightly regretted in hindsight:

Credit: Comcast Sports Network

The 'Canes man-advantage strategies aren't particularly complicated, but Brind'Amour has brought an element of planning and movement to the unit.

Gone are the moments from years past when it seemed like only the passer and the pass receiver were moving at all.

Both the puck and the players now seem continuously cycling, not merely trying to find the open man but trying to create an open man.

Regardless of how the 'Canes have done it, the power play has become one of the league's best since the turn of the calendar, rallying from the bottom third to the top third in shockingly little time.

As the final weeks of a lost, if not failed season wind down, the tremendous momentum of both Carolina's penalty kill and power play groups should create much-needed optimism for the thick of the Bill Peters coaching tenure ahead.

Mark Jones has been a Carolina Hurricanes featured columnist for Bleacher Report since 2009. Visit his profile to read more or follow him on Twitter.