The Best and Worst Line of Round 1

Fred Poulin

2017-04-18

 

Here's a look at the hottest lines in the National Hockey League since the beginning of the playoffs, including a few defensemen producing offensively. You will also find below the "Cold as ice" line and duo of the week.

 

Hot forwards

 

Conor ShearySidney CrosbyJake Guentzel (Pittsburgh)

Sid the Kid is leading the way, playing on a line with two youngsters. While Sheary has yet to start picking up points, notching only one point in three contests, he has been playing very well for Pittsburgh. As for Crosby, he has been everything hockey fans have been hoping for: dominating. With one goal and four assists for five points, he delivered a nice pace to Guentzel who scored the overtime winner on Sunday to push the Blue Jackets to the brink of elimination. The rookie Guentzel is this year's Bryan Rust, as he already has four goals and one assist, including two game-winning goals, for five points. Add a healthy Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel to the mix, and the Penguins will be hard to beat once again this spring.

EV Strength Production = 11 points

PP Production = 0 points

 

Rickard RakellRyan GetzlafPatrick Eaves (Anaheim)

Another team with a solid 3-0 lead, the Ducks came back from a 4-1 deficit last night to win Game 3 in overtime. Leading the charge for this experienced team is Getlaf's line. The veteran pivot is off to a great start, recording two goals and two assists for four points in three games. The budding Rakell is also raking it up with the same offensive output in addition to a strong plus-5 rating. Eaves, a trade-deadline acquisition, has two assists alongside them, completing this very efficient trio.  

EV Strength Production = 10 points

PP Production = 4 points

 

Dynamic duo

 

Shea TheodoreKevin Bieksa (Anaheim)

The rookie Theodore is on fire against the Flames with a harvest of two goals and three helpers for five points already in the first three games of the series. Taking advantage of an injured Cam Fowler, the youngster is showing flashes of brilliance on the big NHL stage. Paired with the rugged veteran Bieksa, Theodore is getting over 20 minutes of action per game. As for Bieksa, he has already notched four assists in three games to help the Ducks take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. Bieksa also has nine penalty minutes and plus-3 rating in the process.

📢 advertisement:

Overall Production = 9 points

PP Production = 2 points

 

Cold as ice line

 

Chris KreiderDerek StepanMats Zuccarello (NYRangers)

The Rangers' top offensive line has been basically held in check in the first three games of the series. With only one assist from Zuccarrello and Stepan apiece, New York needs to get it going tonight after surrendering a late 3-2 lead in Game 2, and subsequently losing the game in extra time. The Blueshirts were hapless and disinterested in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden and it showed on the scoreboard, a 3-1 loss. The team's main agitator Kreider has been invisible all series and has not been seen near Carey Price's net so far. Kreider has been blanked in three games and he has been a non-factor for a goal-starved team. This line needs to step up and generate traffic and more scoring chances or this series will be shorter than most anticipated.

EV Strength Production = 2 points

PP Production = 0 point

 

Cold as ice duo

 

Paul MartinBrent Burns (San Jose)

Blanked two games in a row and down 2-1 in the series, San Jose is in trouble if Chewbacca doesn't start putting points on the board. With only three goals scored overall, the Sharks are having trouble solving Cam Talbot. While the veteran Martin scored a goal in Game 1, his defensive partner Burns, has yet to record a single point despite registering 13 shots on goal. Burns slowed down mightily this season after a torrid start and ended with "only" 76 points despite a better than one-point-per-game pace early on. Burns will have to find the scoresheet on Tuesday, or the 2016 Stanley Cup finalists will be golfing early this year.

Overall Production = 1 point

PP Production = 0 point

 

Leave A Comment

UPCOMING GAMES

Jun 04 - 20:06 EDM vs FLA

Starting Goalies

Top Skater Views

  Players Team
ALEKSANDER BARKOV FLA
MARCO ROSSI MIN
JASON ROBERTSON DAL
YANNI GOURDE T.B
JACK HUGHES L.A

Top Goalie Profile Views

  Players Team
SERGEI IVANOV CBJ
YAROSLAV ASKAROV S.J
THATCHER DEMKO VAN
SPENCER KNIGHT CHI
KEVIN LANKINEN VAN

LINE COMBOS

  Frequency CAR Players
25.4 ANDREI SVECHNIKOV SETH JARVIS SEBASTIAN AHO
20.9 LOGAN STANKOVEN JORDAN STAAL JORDAN MARTINOOK
19.6 ERIC ROBINSON MARK JANKOWSKI WILLIAM CARRIER

DobberHockey Podcasts

Fantasy Hockey Life: Emma Lingan on the Nashville Predators

Emma Lingan of the Hockey News is here to report on the Nashville Predators. Jesse and Victor interview Emma about returning pros Filip Forsberg, Jonathan Marchessault, Ryan O’Reilly, Steven Stamkos, Luke Evangelista, Michael Bunting, Zachary L’Heureux, Joakim Kemell, Roman Josi, Brady Skjei, Ryan Ufko, Juuse Saros, and Justus Annunen.. In Cat’s Instincts, Cat Silverman of […]

Fantasy Hockey Life: Pittsburgh Penguins with Josh Yohe

Josh Yohe is here to report on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jesse and Victor interview Josh about returning pros Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell, Evgeni Malkin, Tommy Novak, Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, Erik Karlsson, Matt Grzelcyk, Kris Letang, Owen Pickering, Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic. In Cat’s Instincts, Cat Silverman of InGoal mag breaks down […]

Fantasy Hockey Life: Seattle Kraken with RJ Eskanos

RJ Eskanos of Emerald City Hockey is here to report on the Seattle Kraken. Jesse and Victor interview RJ about returning pros Jared McCann, Chandler Stephenson, Jaden Schwartz, Jordan Eberle, Kaapo Kakko, Shane Wright, Matty Beniers, Andre Burakovsky, Eeli Tolvanen, Jani Nyman, Vince Dunn, Brandon Montour, Ryker Evans, Joey Daccord, and Philipp Grubauer. In Cat’s […]

Keeping Karlsson: KK Leagues Report – 2025 Champs!

Derrick talks to the big winners of the various Keeping Karlsson leagues from this past season. He’s first joined by the new KKUPFL Ultimate Champion Ian and the reigning fast-track winner Alec. Then Derrick is joined by the year 1 KK Dynasty League champions Ian (different Ian), Saqib, and Brett, aka the “Good ol’ Ottawa Boys”.

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

📢 advertisement: