NHL EDGE stats: Ehlers X-factor for Hurricanes during 2026 playoffs

NHL.com's fantasy staff continues to cover the latest trends and storylines in the League through the lens of NHL EDGE) puck and player tracker stats. Today, we identify three strong underlying metrics for Carolina Hurricanes’ forward Nikolaj Ehlers.

1. Skating speed

Carolina Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers joined Connor McDavid (2024) and Mario Lemieux (1991) as the only players since 1990 with consecutive three-point games in the Stanley Cup Final. Ehlers (four goals, five assists), who had the most points in the championship series (nine), is in his 11th NHL season, his first with the Hurricanes after signing a six-year contract this offseason (played first 10 seasons with Winnipeg Jets). He scored both the first and last goal of the Stanley Cup Final, and was an X-factor in the Hurricanes’ first Stanley Cup title in 20 years because of his speed metrics and vision.

Ehlers led Carolina with 22 speed bursts of 20-plus mph in the Cup Final, which ranked second behind Jack Eichel (34) among all players. He was also second on the Hurricanes in that category for the entire playoffs with 61 (behind Taylor Hall's 62).

Per NHL EDGE IQ, Ehlers scored both of his goals in Game 1 off the rush, and five of his six goals against a goalie this postseason have come off the rush (he had two empty net goals in playoffs); goals off the rush are those scored within five seconds of a team crossing the offensive blue line. Ehlers is tied for second behind Vegas Golden Knights forward Brett Howden (eight) for the most goals scored off the rush during the 2026 playoffs.

Ehlers also had 41 shot attempts off the rush which ranked third in the entire NHL behind teammates Logan Stankoven (47) and Hall (43); that trio has combined to score 12 of the Hurricanes 21 goals off the rush since the start of the postseason. During the regular season, Carolina led the NHL in goals off the rush (104) and were the only team with more than 100. 

NHL EDGE IQ insights: Ehlers' highlight-reel assist in Game 5 on Andrei Svechnikov's second power-play goal showcased his elite vision. Ehlers received a pass from defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere on his backhand at the top of the circles and, in one motion, transferred the puck to his forehand and delivered a tape-to-pass cross-ice pass to Svechnikov for the goal. Svechnikov's shot had a Projected Goal Rate of 48.38 percent, the highest for Carolina on any single attempt during the Cup Final and their second-highest of the playoffs.

2. Shot speed

Ehlers empty-net goal in Game 6 was clocked at 86.5 mph to mark the hardest shot resulting in a goal for the Hurricanes this postseason. He had three of Carolina's four hardest shots resulting in a goal during the playoffs (also 84.67 in Game 2 of Eastern Conference Final vs. Montreal Canadiens, 84.63 in Game 2 in Game 1 of Stanley Cup Final).

In terms of 80-plus mph shot attempts, Ehlers had the most among all players in the Stanley Cup Final (nine). Eight of Ehlers' nine hardest shot attempts of the postseason came in the championship series, and he ranked in the 91st percentile among forwards in average shot speed (63.12 mph) during the playoffs.  During this regular season, Ehlers was among the forward leaders in both hardest shot (93.63 mph; 94th percentile) and average shot speed (63.86 mph; 97th percentile).

The Hurricanes scored 17 goals this postseason on shots of at least 70 mph, with Ehlers scoring five of those 15:

• 86.50 mph vs. Golden Knights in Game 6 (empty net)
• 84.67 mph vs. Canadiens in Game 2
• 84.63 mph vs. Golden Knights in Game 1
• 78.66 mph vs. Flyers in Game 2
• 71.70 mph vs. Flyers in Game 3

3. Shot location

Ehlers is tied with Anaheim Ducks forward Mikael Granlund (four each) for the most midrange goals this postseason. Ehlers, Stankoven and Andrei Svechnikov (three each) combined for 10 of the Hurricanes’ League-leading 25 midrange goals this postseason.

Ehlers ranked in the 90th percentile or higher among forwards in offensive zone time percentage at all strengths (47.5) and at even strength (45.2) this postseason. It’s also worth noting Ehlers scored 12 go-ahead goals in the regular season, tied for second on the team behind Jarvis (14).

Under coach Rod Brind’Amour, the Hurricanes made the playoffs in all eight of his seasons (including four conference finals appearances) but this is the team's first Stanley Cup since he played for them in 2006. Ehlers, meanwhile, had only gotten past the Second Round of the postseason once (2018 Western Conference Finals with Jets) prior to his arrival in Carolina.