Ehlers heating up just in time for Hurricanes’ big test against Oilers on Thursday

EDMONTON -- Nikolaj Ehlers is heating up just in time for the Carolina Hurricanes’ next big test.

The Carolina forward has five points (three goals, two assists) in his past four games, giving him eight (three goals, five assists) in 11 games to help the Hurricanes (8-2-1) race to the top of the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference.

The defending Stanley Cup champions face off against the Edmonton Oilers (7-1-1) here at Rogers Place on Thursday (9 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNW, CARNHL, HHN) in a battle between two of the top teams in the NHL. 

“The way we play is simple and we want to play the right way and do the right things every single game, but I don’t feel we’ve fully gotten to that point yet,” Ehlers said after practice Wednesday. “When we do play the way we need to play, we’re a really hard team to play against and we’ve shown that in some games. 

“I think we work hard, which is important because even when it’s not always going for us, sometimes you get results out of that too. But we do have another place we want to get to.”​

Ehlers helped Carolina win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2006 in his first season with the Hurricanes. He had 71 points (26 goals, 45 assists) in 82 games and 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 18 playoff games.  

The 30-year-old is in the second season of a six-year, $51 million contract ($8.5 million average annual value) and wants to help the Hurricanes put together another lengthy Cup run. 

“Absolutely, but it takes all five guys on the ice to make sure you play well in the D-zone and get the puck out from there and then get the puck into the O-zone the right way,” Ehlers said. 

“When we do that, it’s a very fun and easy way to play. But when we don’t do that and don’t play the right way, don’t get pucks out, don’t help each other out and don’t get pucks deep, that’s when we create turnovers that come against us and odd-man rushes. We’ve given up way too much of that.

“We’ve shown when we play the right way, we’re a really good team, but we haven’t done enough of it. We’re 10 games in, we did it last year, but overall, it’s been a good start results-wise, so that’s a positive.”

Ehlers spent his first 10 NHL seasons with the Winnipeg Jets before signing with Carolina. He didn’t score in his first eight games this season but broke through with the winning goal against his former team in a 3-2 victory at Winnipeg to start the road trip Saturday. He had two goals and an assist in a 6-3 win at the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.

“Going back to Winnipeg again this year was good,” Ehlers said. “It was more emotional last year, the first time being back and getting the standing ovation and the video tribute and seeing the people there for the first time. 

“This time it was a little bit more fun, there were no nerves. It was just fun to be able to come out and play in front of that crowd again and against guys you played with for 10 years. I loved it, it was a lot of fun.”

Carolina is the fourth-highest scoring team in the League this season, averaging 3.82 goals per game to go with a strong defensive game; the Hurricanes have conceded 2.45 goals per game this season, which is fifth best in the NHL. 

“He’s dynamic. That was a key acquisition that we added to our group,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said of Ehlers. “He’s a guy, and you saw it the other night (in Winnipeg). The game’s on the line and we needed someone to make a play that was extraordinary.”

Ehlers fit in seamlessly with the Hurricanes last season and became a leader in the locker room. He continues to be a positive influence on his teammates this season. 

“He’s a smart hockey player for sure and that maybe gets a little under-looked because of the speed and the skill,” Brind’Amour said. “But he’s very intelligent.”

Ehlers is looking forward to the challenge against the Oilers.

Edmonton is the highest-scoring team in the NHL, averaging 4.56 goals per game led by forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. McDavid leads the NHL with 26 points (six goals, 20 assists) in nine games. He is the fastest player in NHL history to register 20 assists in a season. Draisaitl has 16 points (eight goals, eight assists).

Having played for a decade in the Western Conference in Winnipeg, Ehlers is very familiar with the game plan needed to defeat Edmonton. 

“We just have to shut those two guys down, which will be easy,” Ehlers joked. “Obviously they’re two incredible hockey players but they also have depth. They got a lot of great players, but you obviously have to do a little more against those two guys.”