Jeff Skinner Sparking Carolina Hurricanes' Offensive Improvement

Jeff Skinner needed a few weeks to rediscover his groove, but the end result proved nothing short of spectacular.

After returning from a wrist injury on Nov. 21 following a nearly month-long absence, Skinner produced only two points and a minus-two rating in his first six games back. The unlikely yet nagging trade rumors that plagued his summer, originally dispelled by nine points in the season's first nine games, returned again with fervor.

Then the charcoal of motivation caught fire beneath No. 53.

Skinner has ripped off eight goals and added two assists in the Hurricanes' last seven games.

Back-to-back three-point explosions against the Capitals and Predators boosted the 21-year-old to the top of the NHL's stars of the week.

Then, after two games off the box score, Skinner scored in three consecutive third periods as the 'Canes rallied back for at least a point in the final three games of their Western Conference road swing.

Game	Goals	Assists	Points	Shots
Dec. 3 at WSH	2	1	3	7
Dec. 5 at NSH	3	0	3	6
Dec. 6 vs. SJS	0	0	0	2
Dec. 9 at VAN	0	0	0	5
Dec. 10 at EDM	1	1	2	3
Dec. 12 at CGY	1	0	1	7
Dec. 14 at PHX	1	0	1	4

Skinner is on a prorated 289-shot pace—his previous career high, set in 2010-11, is 215. He's tallied six or more shots on three occasions within this hot streak, something he accomplished only once in his first 16 matches.

No. 53 is also experiencing a significant upturn in statistical efficiency. His 53.6 Corsi rating over the last eight games (126 Corsi for, 109 against), per ExtraSkater data, is a noteworthy improvement over his 46.5 mark from the first 15 games.

The results are beginning to reflect throughout Carolina's entire offense.

The Hurricanes found themselves leading only the woeful Sabres in goals for late in November. They've picked up the pace tremendously since, however, surging up to 24th in the NHL in that regard.

Since hosting the Senators on Nov. 24, the 'Canes are averaging 3.09 goals per game—production that, if maintained over a full season, would currently rank sixth in the league.

Even more impressively, the club has also rattled off equal or more shot attempts (Corsi) than their opponent in six consecutive contests and seven of their last eight. See the game-by-game breakdown below:

Game	Corsi For	Corsi Against	Percentage
Dec. 1 vs VAN	44	37	54.3%
Dec. 3 at WSH	37	43	46.3%
Dec. 5 at NSH	45	24	65.2%
Dec. 6 vs SJS	61	51	54.5%
Dec. 9 at VAN	48	40	54.5%
Dec. 10 at EDM	49	45	52.1%
Dec. 12 at CGY	52	41	55.9%
Dec. 14 at PHX	52	52	50.0%

Led by Skinner's ongoing scoring explosion along with Eric Staal's newfound consistency as the captain— sporting at least a point in 14 of his last 16 appearances—the 'Canes offense is sparking the team as a whole.

With points in the standings from six of their last seven games, loser point-aided Carolina currently holds a precarious but nonetheless present lead on the Metropolitan Division's third and final guaranteed playoff bid.

Once a much-needed, six-game break concludes on Friday, the Hurricanes will face a critical stretch of eight consecutive Eastern opponents. They'll need the offense to continue its steadiness more than ever.

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.