Brett Bellemore Providing Defensive Stability in Carolina Hurricanes' Win Streak

After sitting out five of the Carolina Hurricanes' eight season-opening losses, Brett Bellemore's emergence as a regular defenseman in the lineup has coincided directly with the Hurricanes' ongoing three-game winning streak.

It's been arguably the best three-game stretch of his NHL career.

On the standard box score, Bellemore, now 26, has registered two assists in the three contests, upping his career point total to a mere 12 in 78 career games. His quick decision to throw the puck toward the net directly led to Elias Lindholm's game-winning goal on Saturday against Arizona.

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But just as it's always been with the 6'4", 225-pound bruiser, Bellemore's biggest impact has not been in the scoring department.

No. 73 now leads the 'Canes with an average of 3.3 hits per game (20 in six games), including several highlight-reel crunches during last Sunday's meeting with Los Angeles.

Both of Bellemore's hits not only sparked a roar from the crowd, but they also ended L.A. offensive attacks and launched Hurricanes counterattacks in the opposite direction.

In the final minute of Tuesday's game in Columbus, the Blue Jackets entered the zone with speed, seeking a last-second tying goal. But again, Bellemore's long reach and elite defensive awareness came through for Carolina: 

A perfectly timed sweeping poke-check from Bellemore stripped Scott Hartnell of the puck and set up Eric Staal for a game-sealing empty-net breakaway goal.

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With young Ryan Murphy currently playing in the AHL and John Michael-Liles scratched since the winning streak began, Bellemore's presence has filled a vital niche of physicality and vision.

Despite his lack of skating speed, his innate ability to foresee where the puck will go, where the hit can be made and where the forward can be tied up along the boards overcomes such a weakness through top-class positioning.

The former sixth-round pick continues to steadily blossom as a reliable lower-pairing defensive defenseman.

Mark Jones has covered the Carolina Hurricanes for Bleacher Report since 2009. Visit his profile to read more, or follow him on Twitter.