Big hits are already piling up in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs

TL;DR

The Stanley Cup playoffs are seeing an average of 86.9 hits per game, with the Carolina Hurricanes leading with 57 hits in their win over Ottawa. This physicality is a hallmark of playoff hockey, especially in the first round.

Key points

Stanley Cup playoffs averaging 86.9 hits per game
Carolina Hurricanes recorded 57 hits in a single game
Last year's average was 79.2 hits per game
Physicality is highest at the start of the playoffs
Big hits are a hallmark of playoff hockey

Carolina HurricanesStanley Cup playoffs

DENVER (AP) — The big hits always roll out this time of year. It's just part of playoff hockey, especially in the tone-setting first round.

So, keep that head on a swivel.

Through seven contests, teams are averaging a combined 86.9 hits per game, with the Carolina Hurricanes leading the list following their 57-hit performance in a 2-0 win over Ottawa.

A year ago in the Stanley Cup playoffs, there were a combined 79.2 hits per game through the opening 10 matchups and finished at 78. It’s typical for the physicality to be at its highest at the start of a Cup run.

You know, making a point and all.

“Sometimes, the best way to manage your emotions is to get into it, get physical, give a hit, take a hit,” said Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog, whose team leads the Los Angeles Kings 1-0 heading into Game 2 on Tuesday night. “Whatever you've got to do to get involved physically, that tends to settle you down a bit.”

Known for their quickness, the Avalanche threw some of their weight around, too, in a 2-1 win over the Kings. They had 35 hits — only Utah had less with 30 — but Colorado averaged just over 16 hits a game in the regular season.

The Kings, meanwhile, had 49 hits Sunday.

“You're battling against the same team, so it's going to be like that all playoffs,” center Scott Laughton said.

Don’t forget about the extracurricular activity after the whistle, either. Those skirmishes, pushes and face rubs with the glove that sometimes avoid penalties.

There's also defending your teammates. Landeskog took exception after hit defenseman in the back. Landeskog and Kempe went at it and both wound up with roughing penalties.