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.

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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

 

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