Hurricanes’ Andrei Svechnikov getting his points, but knows where he must be better
Andrei Svechnikov was not surprised to hear the statistic, nor offended by it being mentioned.
The Carolina Hurricanes forward has been on a heater of late, putting up three goals and three assists in the two games before Tuesday’s game against the San Jose Sharks.
But there is that one glaring stat: In the Canes’ first 27 games before Tuesday, Svechnikov had one 5-on-5 goal. One. Fifty-seven shots and one goal after more than 346 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time.
“That’s fine. I know that,” Svechnikov said Tuesday morning.
Svechnikov’s 5-on-5 scoring woes are indicative of the Hurricanes’ 5-on-5 offensive struggles. And it has seeped into the team’s 5-on-5 defensive play as the Canes dropped four of five games before facing the Sharks at Lenovo Center.
The Canes took a 3-2 comeback win over the Sharks with a strong third period that had defenseman Jalen Chatfield give Carolina the lead with 2:39 left in regulation. Defenseman Brent Burns tied the score earlier in the period, jumping into the rush, and Shayne Gostisbehere scored in the first for the Canes (18-9-1).
Svechnikov did not have a point but drove the play at times in the third period with some powerful five-on-five play.
“He was impactful tonight,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “When we needed it, he turned it on.”
Svechnikov has been picking up points — 24 in 28 games. He had his first career four-point game in the Canes’ win over Colorado last week and two power-play goals against the New York Islanders on Saturday.
But five on five? Not there.
Brind’Amour was asked after Tuesday’s morning skate about Svechnikov’s lack of 5-on-5 scoring and quickly replied, “We’ve got a couple of guys in that boat.”
True enough. Center Sebastian Aho has two 5-on-5 goals. So does winger Seth Jarvis, who has played 21 games.
“I look at it like it’s positive in some ways because they’re going to score,” Brind’Amour said. “If we can get those guys going in the right direction. ... That’s shocking when you think about it with all the ice time they get and how good a players they are.
“I think it’s going to come. We’ve all gone through it, if you played long enough, where nothing seems to work.”
Svechnikov has 11 goals and 13 assists. Seven of his goals have come on the power play, tying winger Martin Necas for the team lead, as the Canes ranked second overall in the NHL before Tuesday’s game and first on the power play at home.
After his two power-play strikes against the Islanders, Svechnikov was shooting 7-for-22 on the power play.. But the Canes were undone by four second-period goals, all at even strength in a 4-3 loss.
Svechnikov’s overall shooting percentage this season before Tuesday was 12.2%, a little above his career average (11.8%). Three of his goals have been empty-netters.
But that 1-for-57?
“We’ve got to create more five on five, just I guess try to go there and score a greasy goal and things will go our way,” Svechnikov said. “I guess it’s been unlucky a little bit. When I look at my games, pretty much every game I get chances but it just doesn’t go in. So I need to go there and score a greasy goal.”
Svechnikov said it wasn’t a matter of getting too cute on his shots, always trying to pick a corner or beat the goalie with the perfect shot.
“I wouldn’t say that, really.” he said. “I don’t know. I’ve got to figure it out. They’re going to come. They’re going to come.”
Svechnikov said he reviews every game, studying every shift he’s on the ice and how he reacts in certain situations. Brind’Amour has shuffled the lines often and had Svechnikov with Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook on Tuesday.
Brind’Amour said Svechnikov can’t allow his 5-on-5 misses to affect the other parts of his game. He’s a power forward. He can be a banger. The other teams know when he’s on the ice. He opens up ice for his linemates.
“He’s found a way to contribute offensively, still,” Brind’Amour said, “His five on five hasn’t happened yet. If you’re not scoring on the power play, that can bleed into being negative on your five on five. But it should help.
“It’s not that he has played poorly five on five but just hasn’t had results. I thought early in the season, especially, ‘Svech’ was really good. I thought he was creating a lot of chances. That was kind of hard luck. Lately it has been a little less of the dominant kind of play, but we know what he’s capable of.
“It’s just a matter of time.”
This story was originally published December 10, 2024 at 9:49 PM.
