Carolina Hurricanes: Special Teams "Killing" the Canes This Season

From all angles, it hasn't been a very special year for the Carolina Hurricanes so far this young season.

Not in the standings, where the Canes are in the bottom third with a miserable 2-4-2 record...

And definitely not in the special teams, which seems to be the primary cause for that un-special record you see listed above.

Issue No. 1 - The Powerplay

The problems start (but definitely don't end) on the power play. The Hurricanes are tied for fourth in the NHL in power play opportunities with 40, but 28th in scoring percentage at 12.5 percent.

At 5-for-40, you know improvements are needed. The first way to do that is to practice it more, which is in the hands of Paul Maurice and the rest of the coaching squad.

The second way is to mix up the power play lines and the formation, which is definitely needed.

Brind'Amour is just not fast or talented enough anymore to fit in on the unit with speedsters like Staal and Samsanov, and Tim Gleason is just not a scoring defenseman, despite years and years of the 'Canes management trying to turn him into one.

Also, the formation could use a change, too.

In the usual Umbrella formation, the puck is mainly possessed by the three outside players, with two players near the goal for tips and screens.

If the Canes shifted to an Overload formation, Corvo and Pitkanen could both play on the top unit with Ruutu, Staal, and Whitney down deep, which would allow for a more dangerous top unit, and would give the 'Canes a much-needed power play jolt.

Issue No. 2 - The Penalty Kill

Right now, you are saying, "Wait, but I thought the Penalty Kill had been really good recently?!"

You are correct, when you look at the percentage. But not when you look at the opportunities allowed.

The Canes have 44 power plays allowed, 28th in the league. When you are giving up more than five man advantages to the opponent per game, even an average unit (which is about 20 percent) is going to beat you at least once every game.

And that is exactly what has happened, which, if you look back on it, is the difference from six losses in eight games to three losses in eight games. The Penguins, Islanders, and Flyers all beat us on the power play, which is the difference between a 2-4-2 record and a 5-3-0 record.

First, let's remember the Canes have been very good in the past five games at the penalty kill, so it's not like that unit needs a change.

What does need a change is the discipline. Referees are being stricter this year, and it seems that just a couple different penalties keep costing us over and over.

Even though the discipline has slightly improved in the past three games, the Canes are winless in that span, which says something is still wrong. Hooking has caught players several times, so has holding. Also, there has been plenty of careless, stupid stuff: delay of game, too many men on the ice...

The Canes have to stop giving the opponents opportunities, or they just won't be able to keep up!

Biggest Issue No. 3 - How to Fix It

Three things:

1. Practice!
2. Change the Lines and Formations
3. Stop Committing Unnecessary Penalties

If all of these three things can change, the Canes will have success on their upcoming three-game stretch against the Western Conference. If they don't, they will continue to slip farther and farther behind the top teams.