Hurricanes' 'Power Kill' Dominates Playoffs

0:00It's April 28th. This is NHL News today, AI-powered stories from Inside Your Team. The Carolina Hurricanes just swept the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the 2026 playoffs and their penalty kill was straight fire. Going 20 for 21, that's a 95.2% success rate. They shut down Ottawa's power play, cold, even killing off 4-5 on 3 disadvantages, including 3 in the clincher game 4. Big deeper, and it's wild. The Hurricanes didn't just survive Shore-handed, they outchanced Ottawa. While the Senators had the man advantage, Carolina generated about a quarter of the expected goals, with a 24.82% share the best offensive penalty kill in the playoffs so far. They even notched what feels like a shorthanded goal in game 2, right as a penalty expired. Fans and analysts are buzzing because this unit looked more dangerous than Ottawa's power play at times, flipping the script on what you're supposed. To do, down a man.

1:01It's been a hurricane staple for nearly a decade across eight playoff runs, fueling their deep pushes. Those advanced stats carry over from the regular season, where Carolina led the league with a 25.28% shot share. Shorthanded and an 18.52 expected goals percentage, numbers no one else touched. They scored 12 shorthanded goals, league wide, despite middling overall kill rates, thanks to elite defense. If the canes keep this power kill humming, they're primed for a Stanley Cup charge, especially turning slow starts into momentum. The dominance is real, and it's only getting started.