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Posted at 1:10 PM EST 

7:05 PM EST. After going 0-2 to start the year, the Jets are now 2-2 after switching from Steve Mason to Connor Hellebucyk after the former was inexplicably singed in the offseason for two years at $8-million. While the Jets were very good going shot for shot with the Oilers last Monday, Winnipeg was fortunate to finish their Western Canadian road trip at 2-1 after being outshot in Vancouver 32-20 but doubling up the Canucks 4-2. With Hellebucyk now 2-0, the Jets stock is climbing and they figure to get defenseman Dustin Byfuglien back after he missed the last two game. That inflates their value further. While Winnipeg appears to have turned it around on paper, a deeper look suggests otherwise. The Jets are 27th in Corsi For % (an advanced statistic used to measure shot attempt differential while at even strength play) and dead last in offensive zone starts at just 39.7% which means they take a majority of their face-offs in their own end of the rink which is not a foundation for winning.

Carolina has played just two games this season and is 1-0-1-0 after a 2-1 overtime loss to the Blue Jackets. The Hurricanes have outshot both their opponents by double digits this season, putting a total of 80 pucks on net.  Carolina’s win, a 5-4 shootout over the Wild might not look great on paper but Minnesota tied that game with 0.01 seconds left in the game. We ripped up a ticket that night but the ‘Canes were the better team the entire night. Newly acquired goaltender Scott Darling’s .889 save percentage might not look so hot but when combined with his team’s shot percentage, the Hurricanes are 27th in PDO (save % + shooting %) at 95.5 which suggests they have deserved better. Carolina is also a top-five Corsi % team right behind the Maple Leafs at 55.3% and the Leafs are getting big headlines across the league. Nobody is talking about the ‘Canes who are also third in offensive zone start percentage at 57.8%, which is a sharp contrast from the Jets. The Hurricanes have been high on our radar for a while now and the numbers under the hood suggest they are primed to go on a run. We’re not going to miss out.

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