Welcome back to another edition of Lining Up. This week we will examine a couple hot lines around the league as well as players in new and favourable situations. To help discuss the lines, we can use the Player Usage Chart found on each player's Advanced Stats tab. This chart gives us an excellent look at how a player and a line is being utilized and how they are performing with that usage.

Let's dive in.

Dylan Cozens – Jack Quinn – JJ Peterka

The rookie trio out of Buffalo has been connecting lately and all three players are on hot streaks. The line has been together for nine goals and have a 56.8 CF%. When viewing the Player Usage Chart, the line is seeing a slightly lesser quality of competition and offensive deployment, due to whatever line Tage Thompson is on receiving the bulk of opportunities in the opposing team's zone. Regardless, the chart affirms that they are driving play and have positive metrics when on the ice.

All three have at least four points in their last four games but Cozens has a monster nine points in the same span. This recent streak has brought him up to nearly a point-per-game pace on the season and he is filling the peripheral categories as well with nearly three shots and a hit per game. Most importantly, Cozens is on the top power-play unit with Thompson and Jeff Skinner and that unit has been performing well with five power-play goals in the last four games. Cozens is a touch hot with a 13% shooting rate and a 3.4 points per 60 minutes, however with such a small career sample size, it's not unreasonable to expect his shooting percentage to be slightly higher than the close to 8% he showed in first 120 games over the last two seasons. Particularly when the line has clearly developed some chemistry.

Quinn and Peterka also both have shooting percentages north of 15% which will inevitably regress but again, the line has been playing at a high level lately and that can only be a benefit to your roster while it lasts. Cozens is on more fantasy squads than his linemates but may still be available at only 44% rostered in Yahoo leagues. Quinn is at 12% and Peterka a paltry 2%.

Buffalo plays three games this week and their offense continues to hum along. Checking the Hot/Cold Teams charts in the Recent Trends section of Frozen Tools, you will see that Buffalo sits at the top of the list with 19 goals in the last four games, a 4.75 goals per game average. With that level of production combined with a dense week, don't sleep on this line.

Kevin Hayes – Travis Konecny

Travis Konecny returned from a five-game absence and immediately slotted alongside his most frequent partner, Kevin Hayes. He wasted no time getting back into his old rhythm as he has scored a goal in three straight games since returning. Meanwhile, Hayes held down the fort and continues to thrive with eight points in his last games for an extended hot streak of his own. The pair have played more than 50% of their even strength time together and with the man advantage. The results so far have seen them both on pace for above point-per-game seasons and career years. They are also shooting at career paces and Hayes is two power-play points shy of his career high. The best part about all this production is that both players are largely within normal advanced stats, and in the case of Hayes, could see increased production if he goes on a scoring bender. Even when Sean Couturier returns it is hard to imagine how splitting this pair would be justified.

When viewing the Player Usage Chart, Hayes and Konecny see a high proportion of offensive deployment as well as a high quality of competition. Besides the great production to show for it, they also have excellent underlying metrics with a strong Corsi For percentage, indicating that the pair are driving the play despite facing talented opposition.

The third forward who has joined this duo the most since Konecny returned and is also getting deployed on the power-play with them? Yes you guessed it, it's Noah Cates. Predicted as not arriving until next season, Cates is an energy player and capable middle-six winger with upside comparable to Josh Anderson. He posted strong possession numbers in his limited action with Philadelphia last season and looks to have been given an excellent opportunity to play on the top line. So far, he has been quiet but keep an eye on this deployment should his production start to spike.

Philadelphia has three games remaining this week with two games on off nights, consider adding Hayes and Konecny as they are only rostered at 29% and 59% in Yahoo leagues respectively.

Cole Perfetti

Quick note that Perfetti has continued lining up alongside Blake Wheeler and Mark Scheifele on the top line in Winnipeg and is currently riding a streak of seven points in his last five games while averaging three shots on goal during that span. Winnipeg still has four games remaining this week, including a matchup against a porous St. Louis squad followed by another enticing match against Chicago. In Yahoo leagues, Perfetti is also triple position eligible and only 27% rostered.

Brock Boeser

Since nearly being scratched prior to the game against Arizona, Brock Boeser scored a statement goal and then last night was playing with Elias Pettersson at even strength and on the top power-play unit. Although he only recorded a single assist, monitor this deployment as Boeser has been relatively cold lately and is due for a positive regression if he can hold this spot in the lineup.

Thanks for reading.