Ah, yes. The question du jour. And it's a great question! It's a question that the media has pondered for some time. It's a question that's been asked in the locker room. It's a question with an answer that has proved elusive as of late.
On Tuesday night against Philadelphia, I think the lack of 5-on-5 scoring was more about what the Flyers did than what the Hurricanes were unable to do. With big bodies in shooting lanes, the Flyers blocked 28 shots - just as many as the Hurricanes were able to put on Brian Elliott. That, combined with how tight the game was at either end of the ice, spelled a slog of a match at even strength. Something to consider, too, is that Philadelphia ranks fourth in the league in 5-on-5 goals against with 84.
There's potential to see things open up a little 5-on-5 when the Canucks come to town on Friday. Vancouver ranks 23rd in the league in 5-on-5 goals against with 105.
All of that said, the team does need to refine its 5-on-5 scoring, which ranks in the bottom handful of the league since the new year. Moving the puck up the ice with pace, possessing the puck, getting bodies in front, finding lanes and getting the puck through to the goaltender - all of these things are going to help the Canes up their 5-on-5 goal total, something the team is going to need in order to be successful down the stretch of the season.
