Carolina Hurricanes season snapshot

With the NHL pausing the 2019-20 regular season on March 12 due to the concerns surrounding the coronavirus, NHL.com is taking stock of each of the League's 31 teams.
Today, a snapshot of the Carolina Hurricanes at the pause:

Carolina Hurricanes

Record: 38-25-5, 81 points
Playoff position: Tied with Columbus Blue Jackets for first wild card into Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference
The Carolina Hurricanes began this season determined to build on their trip to the Eastern Conference Final last season.
The Hurricanes won their first five games and their final three before the NHL paused the season. In between, they had five winning streaks of at least three games and five streaks of at least three straight losses.
That roller coaster ride has left Carolina in the same position it finished the 2018-19 regular season: as a wild card into Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.
More Hurricanes season snapshot coverage: Awards | Fantasy honors | Memorable moments
Center Sebastian Aho is tied with Kyle Connor of the Winnipeg Jets for sixth in the League with an NHL career-high 38 goals. Forward Teuvo Teravainen leads the Hurricanes with 48 assists and is second with 63 points, and defenseman Jaccob Slavin has an NHL career-high 36 points (six goals, 30 assists) while leading Carolina averaging 23:24 in ice time.
Carolina has upped its offense from 2.96 goals per game, which was 16th in the NHL last season, to 3.19 goals per game, which is 11th; Its power play has improved from 17.8 percent, ranked 20th in the NHL last season, to 22.3 percent, ranked eighth; and the penalty kill has improved from 81.6 percent, eighth in the NHL last season, to 84 percent this season, which is fourth.
Although the Hurricanes' goals-against per game has increased from 2.70, which was eighth last season, to 2.84, tied for 11th this season, part of that can be attributed to injuries.
Dougie Hamilton had 40 points (14 goals, 26 assists) in 47 games and was one of the leading contenders for the Norris Trophy voted as the top defenseman in the NHL before fracturing the fibula in his left leg Jan. 16. The Hurricanes hope Hamilton returns for the playoffs, but defenseman Brett Pesce had season-ending surgery on his right shoulder March 5.
Goalies Petr Mrazek (concussion) and James Reimer (lower body) were each injured against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 22, leaving the Hurricanes to scramble until Mrazek returned March 10.

Breakout player

Andrei Svechnikov: The 19-year-old forward emerged as a game-changing player in his second NHL season. The No. 2 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, Svechnikov has 61 points (24 goals, 37 assists) in 68 games after scoring 37 points (20 goals, 17 assists) in 82 games as a rookie. Svechnikov made history by becoming the first player to score a lacrosse-style goal in an NHL game, against the Calgary Flames on Oct. 29. He did it again against the Winnipeg Jets on Dec. 17.

Statement win

Hurricanes 6, Toronto Maple Leafs 3, Feb. 22: After Reimer was injured in the first period, Mrazek was also injured, forcing 42-year-old emergency backup goalie David Ayres into the net 11:19 into the second period at Scotiabank Arena. The Hurricanes rallied around Ayres after the Maple Leafs scored on their first two shots against him to pull within 4-3 and held Toronto to eight shots on goal after that. Ayres saved them all to become the oldest goalie in NHL history to win his regular-season debut.

Most compelling game

Hurricanes 2, New York Islanders 1 (shootout), Jan. 19:After sitting out the first three months while contemplating retirement, 38-year-old forward Justin Williams signed a one-year contract with Carolina on Jan. 7 and in his season debut scored the deciding goal in the eighth round of the shootout.