The Carolina Hurricanes are one game away from advancing to the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs and its thanks in large part to the team's dominance on special teams.

Through four games, the Canes have been a perfect 12-for-12 (100%) on the penalty kill, while also scoring four power play goals on just 13 opportunities (30.8%).

It's the exact opposite of what many thought would be the case coming into the series, as New Jersey had the third best power play (28.2%) and the second best penalty kill (82.7%) through the regular season.

Carolina on the other hand, did at least have the best penalty kill in the league (83.6%), but the power play was not very inspiring, ranking 25th overall (18.7%).

But the playoffs is almost like a new season in and of itself and the Hurricanes have hit the ground running on both ends of the special teams equation.

"[Special teams] has been the difference," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "I think it always seems to come down to that one way or another. It's something we preach all the time, talk about it a lot. You have to win that special teams battle because it is so important."

When asked if special teams has been the difference, New Jersey coach Sheldon Keefe was very succinct in his answer: "Yeah... that's the most obvious statement you've made all year."

Without question, the most impressive aspect has been the Canes' penalty kill, which is currently outscoring New Jersey.

In a postseason where so many teams are finding success on the man advantage, the Canes are just finding ways to kill penalties against one of the league's top units.

For reference, Carolina's 30.8% success rate on the power play ranks just seventh amongst all 16 playoff teams and, in total, 11 teams have over a 20% conversion rate. 

The Hurricanes play a very aggressive style on the penalty kill, sending timely pressure at key stress points in the defensive zone to try and force opponents into mistakes and turnovers, which is a big reason they can turn up ice so quickly for shorthanded opportunities.

"I think we've just done a good job of pressuring at the right times, having good sticks and just being on the same page," said captain Jordan Staal. "Winning some draws early and getting them down the ice and making them work 200 feet to get any zone time. The less zone time, the better."

"Their penalty kill is very unique to the league and obviously better than everyone else in the league," said New Jersey coach Sheldon Keefe. "It takes away a lot of the things that our team thrives on and that's been a challenge. There are plays available, but we've just been unable to make them under that type of pressure."

A big part of a successful penalty kill is also just willingness. Whether it's blocking a shot, hustling for a puck, taking a hit, you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to get pucks away from your goal.

"I think sacrifice would be the word that comes to mind," said Jaccob Slavin on the success of the kill. "So many guys are going out there and blocking shots when shots need to be blocked. We're not doing anything different. We know how we operate on the kill and the puck pressure that we do have and just honing in on the little things that they do and understand what they're trying to accomplish as well."

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"You try to be a cohesive unit and just outwork the power play," said Jordan Martinook. "I think a good penalty kill is always going to outwork the power play. I think when you know that you're going over the boards to outwork that team or power play, then usually good things happen. You have to sell out and do things that maybe are uncomfortable, but you know you're doing it for the team and that's the biggest part."

"I think the power play is about execution, the penalty kill is more about outworking your opponent," Brind'Amour said. "You have to execute the plan, but you have to be willing to do a little extra."

Beyond even hard work and willingness, consistency also plays a big part in Carolina's PK success. The team has played the same year in and year out, with mostly the same penalty killers, so there's a familiarity and comfort with playing the highly-aggressive, high-pressure style that they do.

"I think we've been pretty good all year and through the years of doing it a certain way," Brind'Amour said. "If you're consistent in what you're doing and everybody has a good feel for it, then you give yourself a good chance and that's kind of where we're at right now."

While many would want to believe there's something different about the power play, the truth of the matter, nothing really is.

"To be honest, it's been the same," said Andrei Svechnikov, who has two power play points in the series. "We just try to talk about how we're going to rotate a little bit and move the puck a little bit faster, but it's been the same. Just the puck is going for us."

A big thing the team is pointing to too is just the personnel getting more comfortable with each other. Throughout the regular season, injuries, trades and whatnot, saw multiple players in and out of the top unit, which makes it difficult to gel.

"There's areas where you know you want consistency with the groups and I think where we struggled a little bit was we were trying to find that," Brind'Amour said. "So you're mixing guys around every other game and popping guys into different spots. It takes a little time to feel where you need to be."

It also helps when you see the goals finally starting to go in.

Confidence is so key for professional athletes because you have to believe that what you're doing will work. You can't have hesitation in your game and right now, we're seeing a confident Carolina team.

Be sure to check out the Carolina Hurricanes 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Hub for all postseason stories!  

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