Oilers, Hurricanes, Coyotes have top penalty kills, numbers show

NHL.com goes Behind the Numbers to identify key statistics for the Stanley Cup Qualifiers. The NHL season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. Under the Return to Play Plan, 24 teams will compete for the Stanley Cup -- 12 in the Eastern Conference, in Toronto, 12 in the Western Conference, in Edmonton -- starting Aug. 1.

Today, a look at the three teams that can expect the biggest boost from their penalty kill in the Qualifiers.

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers were second in the NHL on the penalty kill this season at 84.4 percent (San Jose Sharks, 85.7 percent). Dave Tippett made significant improvements in his first season as coach after Edmonton was 30th on the penalty kill at 74.8 percent last season. The Oilers' top forwards in shorthanded ice time were Riley Sheahan (154:53) and Josh Archibald (141:37), who each signed as a free agent in the offseason. Another key contributor to the penalty kill is goalie Mike Smith, who was fourth in the NHL with a .915 save percentage against the power play (minimum 20 games played), behind Martin Jones of the Sharks (.918), Robin Lehner of the Vegas Golden Knights (.918) and Antti Raanta of the Arizona Coyotes (.917). Smith was 19-12-6 in 39 games this season, and teammate Mikko Koskinen was 18-13-3 in 38 games with a .902 save percentage against opposition power plays. But Smith's save percentage while shorthanded could be a difference maker in the Oilers' best-of-5 qualifier series against the Chicago Blackhawks, who were No. 28 in the NHL on the power play at 15.2 percent.

Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes had the League's fourth-best penalty kill at 84.0 percent, behind the Sharks (85.7), Oilers (84.4) and Boston Bruins (84.3). Carolina was second in net penalty kill (88.1 percent); that takes into account their 10 shorthanded goals, which tied them for second in the NHL with the Anaheim Ducks, behind the Ottawa Senators (15). The Hurricanes' success on the penalty kill this season is impressive considering No. 1 goalie Petr Mrazek's .867 save percentage against opposition power plays was tied for 30th in the League among goalies to play at least 20 games. Another factor the Hurricanes had to overcome on the penalty kill was the absence of No. 1 defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who broke his left leg Jan. 16 and missed the rest of the season. Hamilton averaged 2:20 of shorthanded ice time in 47 games, which was fifth among Carolina defensemen. Defenseman Brady Skjei averaged 2:45 of shorthanded ice time in seven games with Carolina after being acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers on Feb. 24. With Hamilton available to play against the Rangers in the Cup Qualifiers, the Hurricanes will have four defensemen who averaged more than 2:00 per game shorthanded, along with Jaccob Slavin (3:06) and Joel Edmundson (2:48). Having that level of depth and flexibility could be key against New York's power play, which was seventh in the NHL at 22.9 percent. It also will help ease the burden on Mrazek and goalie James Reimer, who was tied for 14th in the NHL with an .886 save percentage against opposing power plays.

Arizona Coyotes

The Coyotes had the fifth-best penalty kill this season at 82.7 percent, and their 85.3 percent net penalty kill tied for seventh. Arizona's success on the penalty kill was notable considering three of its top four players in average shorthanded time on ice per game missed time with various injuries. Defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson, who led the team with 2:40 per game shorthanded, played 27 games. Forward Brad Richardson, who was second at 2:34, played 59 games, and forward Michael Grabner, who was fourth at 2:17, played 46 games. Only defenseman Alex Goligoski, who was third at 2:22, played all 70 games. Hjalmarsson, Richardson and Grabner, who is second among active NHL players with 22 shorthanded goals (Brad Marchand, 27), are expected to be healthy for Arizona's best-of-5 series against the Nashville Predators, who were tied for 24th on the power play at 17.3 percent. The Coyotes have a decision to make in goal between Darcy Kuemper and Raanta. Kuemper was 16-11-2 with a .928 save percentage in 29 games, including an .888 save percentage when facing the opposing power plays, while Raanta was 15-14-3 in 33 games with a .917 save percentage against opposing power plays. That save percentage was third-best in the League behind Jones and Lehner among goalies to play at least 20 games. Starting Raanta ensures the Coyotes have the advantage on the penalty kill against Nashville. If Hjalmarsson, Richardson and Grabner remain healthy, Arizona could have one of the top shorthanded units in the League throughout the qualifying round.