Carolina Hurricanes Using Balance to Revitalize Offense in 2015

The Carolina Hurricanes have scored three or more goals in seven of their last 12 games.

That's a reality that's hard to believe, considering where the team stood just a month ago. On Jan. 7, the Canes ranked 29th in the NHL, averaging 1.92 goals per game and had scored three or more just once in their previous 18 contests.

The weeks since have told a dramatically different story. A 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 8 sparked a run during which the Hurricanes have averaged 3.08 goals per game and gone 7-2-3.

Who's leading the charge? Not the team's biggest offensive names. Eric Staal's production has remained fairly steady for months and Jeff Skinner certainly isn't prospering lately. Rather, it's been a variety of second- and third-tier offensive producers (and All-Star defenseman Justin Faulk) inciting the spike in Hurricanes scoring.

Player	Goals/Game (up to Jan. 7)	Goals/Game (Jan. 8 on)
Victor Rask	0.25	0.67
Elias Lindholm	0.43	0.55
Brad Malone	0.07	0.55
Jay McClement	0.15	0.50
Alexander Semin	0.27	0.50
Patrick Dwyer	0.15	0.33
Justin Faulk	0.55	0.83

Brad Malone has five goals since Jan. 2 after scoring zero the entire season up to that point. Rookie Victor Rask is riding his first career three-game point streak and is tied for the team scoring lead since Jan. 8. Jay McClement has six points in his last 10 games. Even Alexander Semin is finally coming alive (somewhat).

Why?

It's partially due to sheer possession: the Canes are averaging 31.7 shots per game over this dozen-game stretch, and only four NHL teams are averaging more than that over the course of this season.

But it's also due in part to creating better opportunities. All six forwards listed in the table above and nine of 11 forwards who have played throughout the season (Jordan Staal excluded) have reduced their average shot distance since Jan. 7, according to Sporting Charts data.

Debora Robinson/Getty Images

Depth scoring is a major contributor, as well. The Malone-McClement-Dwyer line has been arguably Carolina's best over the past month. In fact, only Rask and Eric Staal have more points since Jan. 8 than either Malone or McClement.

"We know our role and how we need to play," said McClement to Chip Alexander of the News & Observer on Monday. "We have different skill sets and read off each other pretty well. To be able to contribute [offensively] is an added bonus, for sure."

The Hurricanes offense—now averaging 2.15 goals per game this season—is still second-worst in the league. The road ahead, which will likely continue well beyond the end of the 2014-15 season, remains long.

Continuing the trend established in the past month, however, will provide much-needed optimism for 2015-16.

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.