Lining Up: Zellweger Cracks Ducks Lineup; Howden Production Surge; Hertl Rebounding, and More
Lucas Main
2026-05-12
Happy Tuesday y'all!
It's crazy to think that one series is already finished, while two others are at Game 5 and the other is at Game 4.
Matchups are a big part of every sport, but when you can change on the fly like you can in hockey, lineup decisions can change on a game-to-game basis. Whether because of injury, you play a quicker team, or you are up against a tough opponent, guys get moved in, out, up, or down a lineup. We have seen a number of changes in the Vegas Golden Knights/Anaheim Ducks series thus far. Each coaching staff has made adjustments after a loss to try and speak their squad and throw off the opponent.
Olen Zellweger finally got a crack in the lineup and Ian Moore drew back in (this time on defense) and the two combined for what would be the game-winning goal in Game 4. After playing the majority of the regular season, Coach Q wanted quiet defenders who do the simple things. Zellweger has some streaming value for your playoff leagues as he'll bring some pop to the blueline, but ever since the Ducks traded for John Carlson, his power-play time diminished. Anaheim has several young defensemen and if he can stay in the lineup and gain some playoff experience, he could be a nice buy candidate for next season as he has a similar trajectory to former Ducks defenseman (Shea Theodore and Brandon Montour).
On the Vegas side, Captain Mark Stone suffered a lower-body injury and did not play in Game 4. Pavel Dorofeyev moved up into his spot with Jack Eichel and Ivan Barbashev while Brandon Saad checked in. One player to keep your eye on with Stone out of the lineup is Tomas Hertl. He did not have a goal in 29 games prior to Game 4, but Hertl put one behind Dostal late in the third period. Now that he is off the schneid, the Czech center will have some confidence moving forward and his team will need him if Stone is still hurt.
A Golden Knight to keep your eye on for next season is Brett Howden. The former first round pick broke into the NHL as a 20-year-old and never found a consistent game; not properly being developed. After breaking 20 goals and averaging half-point per game last season, this season seemed like a step back. However, being placed on a line this postseason with Mitch Marner has unlocked his goal scoring potential. At 28 years old, Howden is entering the second season of a five-year contract and with the contracts Vegas already has locked in, they'll need a value player like him to balance out the bigger contracts of Jack Eichel and Marner.
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I don't care who they were playing, the Carolina Hurricanes going 8-0 in their first eight playoff games this postseason is pretty impressive. And it's the line of Taylor Hall, Jackson Blake, and Logan Stankoven leading the charge. Stankoven is tied for the league lead in goals with seven, despite only playing eight games. Hall has 12 points and Blake has another 11 points thus far. This line played together for the majority of the regular season, but the trio have found another gear on the road to the Stanley Cup. Hall will be 35 next campaign and is a certified band-aid boy so I wouldn't expect much, but Stankoven and Blake are young bucks and you can bet whoever is their next winger, he will experience success.
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It is sad that our days of hockey are numbered and we are getting close to the final four. Only having one game a day is a terrible feeling, and I know we will be begging for a Vancouver Canucks vs New York Rangers game in the middle of July, so enjoy them while they last! Have a great week everyone!