Going 13-0-2 in their 15 most recent games, the basis of Carolina's wins stems from their ability to limit the other team's chances. While that isn't new to the streaks - the Canes lead the NHL in fewest shots allowed per game for the entire season - they're allowing just 27.8 shots against per contest.
Let's boil that down a step further.
An average of just nine shots against per period for the opposition. How many of those nine can be quality chances?
Well, per
NaturalStatTrick.com
, the team is allowing an average of just eight high-danger chances a night over the course of their run. Not exactly the most taxing work on a netminder, which is a fantastic thing. Give major credit to the skaters for their ability to maintain possession when they have it and the crew for making life hard for their foes.
Couple that with a string of spectacular performances from Pyotr Kochetkov and Antti Raanta, and the Canes have had their own end on lock.
Since November 25, Kochetkov's .937 save percentage (SV%) not only leads all NHL goaltenders, he's a whole .10 ahead of the next closest goalie.
With just 34 goals allowed in the 15 games, the defense has allowed the team to build a goal differential of +19 since the point streak began. Narrow down the timeframe to December 10, when the team's run of nine consecutive victories began, and you have a +15.
But perhaps what makes the run as spectacular as it has been that there's not a singular driver pacing the unit when it comes to scoring. In fact, no skater has averaged over a point per game during the point streak.
Without looking, if you had to guess, who leads the team in point production during the win streak?
It's not Martin Necas with his team-leading 34 points.
It's not Andrei Svechnkov and his team-leading 18 goals.
It's Captain Jordan Staal, with nine points in nine games.
Looking at his line as a whole, the combination of Staal, Jordan Martinook, and Jesper Fast has combined to produce 21 points in nine games.
Their efforts have blossomed Carolina's record to 23-6-6, with a six-point gap between them and the New Jersey Devils for first. Not bad considering that on December 9 it was the Devils with a nine-point advantage on the Canes. Oh, how quickly things can change.
How far will the group be able to continue their run?
If you ask them, it's one day at a time, which next entails a practice Thursday at PNC Arena. But in terms of adding to the streaks, the Canes will attempt to set new franchise history on Friday with a tenth consecutive victory. The Florida Panthers will try to play spoiler in an
ESPN+/Hulu broadcast special
.
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