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First, because the numerological-obsessed Crosby would start silently screaming when he saw that "86." But mostly because, once again, Geno's left out in the cold. Just a great combination of grind and skill. Louis GM Doug Armstrong anticipated they'd have when he traded for Schenn. I just loved the balance on this line: Tarasenko as the cannon, with Schenn and Schwartz playing a little two-man game, exhibiting the chemistry St. In 224 even-strength minutes, they had a 59.07 percent Corsi advantage, scoring 13 more goals than they surrendered. Louis Blues: Vladimir Tarasenko, Brayden Schenn, Jaden SchwartzĮditor's note: This column was published prior to Schwartz hitting injured reserve with an ankle injury.īlues coach Mike Yeo recently moved Tarasenko off this line as the Blues hit a little bump in the schedule, but they're too good to keep apart. I will light a candle for their inevitable revival. These guys were plus-13 in goals at even strength and helped unleash the offensive beast in Couturier, one of my favorite players. Look, I don't care that after 327 minutes together this season the Flyers have apparently decided to break up the band, which is the kind of thing you do when your losing streak hits double digits.
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Philadelphia Flyers: Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, Sean Couturier "Nothing in this world makes sense anymore, and I love it." So, yeah, it's Brown and something called Alex Iafallo. "Wait, how can he play for the Kings when he was traded to the Golden Knights for salary-cap relief?" Actually, he's doing this while skating with noted offensive juggernaut Dustin Brown. "No, Carter's hurt and no one is ever breaking up Tyler and Tanner Pearson. Who is he skating with, Jeff Carter and Tyler Toffoli?" "Hey, did you hear Anze Kopitar has 36 points in 30 games and is scoring at a previously unseen rate for his career?" Los Angeles Kings: Alex Iafallo, Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown It's just a shame it doesn't have a fantastic nickname like the line Benn and Seguin had with Patrick Sharp: The GQ Line. But that's worth it for the highlight-reel fodder it creates together. Not just because these players are the Stars' three greatest offensive wizards, but because the lines they play against are going to get their chances too: This trio has scored 10 goals at even strength and has given up 11. This is one of those lines that you hope doesn't screw it up, or get broken up for the sake of the rest of the lineup. Now, if Tkachuk could just keep his stick to himself near the bench.ĭallas Stars: Alexander Radulov, Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin The world needs Grind Lines and Crash Lines and 3M Lines.
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It has a shot-attempt differential of plus-322 during that span, a plus-11 goal differential and a relative Corsi of 8.92, meaning that the Flames are a much better team when it's on the ice. Nicknames! The 3M Line has been on a two-year run of excellence for the Flames, playing over 1,000 minutes together since October 2016. Please note that not every line here is still together at the moment, but totally could be again in a moment's notice.Ĭalgary Flames: Matthew Tkachuk, Michael Frolik, Mikael Backlund Through the miracle that is Corsica, here's a look at five of the best this season. But the Los Angeles Kings' "That 70s Line" probably wins the creativity competition.Īll of this got me thinking about my favorite current lines in the NHL. "The Triplets" might have been our most lasting recent line name, as those Tampa Bay Lightning players are still referred to as "members of the Triplets" like they were part of a wrestling faction. Sidebar: The naming of productive lines is its own joy, and probably its own column one day. How exhilarating is it to see ill-fitting puzzle pieces lock in with random teammates and turn into a juggernaut? For instance, at the time Phil Kesselwas traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, who was looking at Carl Hagelin and Nick Bonino and thinking, "Oh yeah, in about year these guys are going to lift the Stanley Cup together as the HBK Line and get an endorsement from The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels himself"? (Probably not Shawn Michaels.) Watching three players form an unstoppable unit is one of those "unique-to-hockey" things we probably take for granted. Now, granted, that might say more about Team USA than anything else, but I digress. I'm pretty sure the trio could have beaten Team USA alone had coach Mike Babcock quadruple-shifted them. To say that line dominated the World Cup of Hockey in 2016 would be an understatement.