Hurricanes Bring Scoring Depth Into Playoffs

Carolina is the only NHL team with 7 players scoring 20+ goals this season.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 8:12pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game in motion, with sharp, overlapping planes of red, black and white representing the dynamic action on the ice.The Carolina Hurricanes' balanced scoring attack could make them a tough out in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.Hartford Today

The Carolina Hurricanes are heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, boasting their highest-scoring regular season in franchise history. The team is the only one in the NHL with seven different players who have scored at least 20 goals, a first for the franchise since the Whalers had eight 20-goal scorers in 1986-87. The Hurricanes' scoring depth, including the offseason addition of Nikolaj Ehlers, has them feeling confident they can win in a variety of game styles as they pursue their first Stanley Cup championship.

Why it matters

The Hurricanes' scoring depth and ability to roll out multiple dangerous lines makes them a formidable opponent in the playoffs, where they have struggled to find a consistent goal-scoring touch in recent postseason runs. Their diverse offensive attack could give them an edge over teams that rely more heavily on shutting down one or two star players.

The details

The Hurricanes scored 291 goals in the regular season, second only to the Colorado Avalanche and 25 more than last year's total. Their 20-goal scorers include Sebastian Aho (27 goals), Andrei Svechnikov (31), Seth Jarvis (32), Logan Stankoven (21), Jordan Staal (20), Taylor Hall (18), and offseason acquisition Nikolaj Ehlers (26). Ehlers, in particular, has provided a scoring boost since joining the team, ranking second on the Hurricanes with 10 power-play goals and thriving on a checking line with Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook.

  • The Hurricanes enter the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
  • Game 1 of the Hurricanes' first-round series against the Ottawa Senators is on Saturday.

The players

Rod Brind'Amour

Head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Sebastian Aho

The Hurricanes' top-line center, leading the team with 80 points in the regular season.

Nikolaj Ehlers

A free-agent signing by the Hurricanes this offseason, he has provided a scoring boost with 26 goals.

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What they’re saying

“I think like we've said all year, whatever way the game goes, I feel like we can do it, we can handle it. If it's low-scoring and tight, I know we're pretty good at that, too. And then clearly we've added some pop, and if the game ends up 6-5, we can figure that out, too. I like that about our group.”

— Rod Brind'Amour, Head Coach

“Obviously we have more plays this year and switched things up a little bit, but I think the guys in the spots they are fit perfectly. Having Jordo kind of take that faceoff and win it for us and get possession right away so we can run our plays is huge. And then adding Fly coming on the break with that much speed, it makes zone entries a lot easier.”

— Seth Jarvis, Forward

What’s next

The Hurricanes will host the Ottawa Senators in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series on Saturday.

The takeaway

The Hurricanes' scoring depth and diverse offensive attack make them a formidable opponent in the playoffs, where they have struggled to find consistent goal-scoring in recent years. Their ability to win in a variety of game styles, from low-scoring defensive battles to high-scoring affairs, could give them an edge over teams that rely more heavily on shutting down one or two star players.