NHL Power Rankings Week 5: Rangers rise, Canucks are terrible

The Carolina Hurricanes have a very impressive even strength xGF percentage of 53.60, fourth best in the NHL. So why are they so bad? Does this means expected goals isn’t predictive? Nope, it doesn’t. Here’s why. The Hurricanes are playing impressive hockey, led by a young forward core and a very underrated blue line. However, their biggest issue is one so huge, it overcomes most of the great things the team does. That issue is their goaltending. Carolina continues to get terrible goaltending, as Cam Ward and Eddie Lack have stopped just 90.05 percent of the even strength shots against them. It’s baffling why the Hurricanes aren’t exploring every available goaltending option because it’s what’s keeping them from being a contender.

To be fair, the Winnipeg Jets had to face the Washington Capitals twice and the New York Rangers last week. Still, their issues are starting to cost them a lot of games. Most of their issues lie on their blue line and in net. Their mishandling of Jacob Trouba is nothing short of inexcusable and it will most likely cost them an excellent young defenseman. Connor Hellebuyck and Michael Hutchinson haven’t been getting the job done as the goalies, though Hellebuyck has at least shown some potential. On the bright side, Patrik Laine has been exciting and should be a huge part of their team for the foreseeable future.