Between the Lines: Week Two

Chris Wassel

2014-10-14

ChrisKunitz

 

Looking between the lines at the most prolific line combinations in the NHL for Week Two.

 

For some of you it is week number two but actually for most it is week one. Let the debate begin on that one. Anyway, it is time to see what was cooking in the first several days of the season and see what trends may continue. It is time to go "Between The Lines".

 

Lead Us Forwards

 

Sidney CrosbyEvgeni MalkinPatric HornqvistChris Kunitz (Pittsburgh) — With the shortened week, you looked at the schedule and went okay Pittsburgh is playing Anaheim and Toronto, you had to lick your chops. Anaheim likes to push the pace and Toronto cannot stop almost anyone. All Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin did was put up four points each along with Patric Hornqvist's three. Owners are jumping at the first chance of nabbing Hornqvist in leagues but buyer beware. He and Chris Kunitz will pile up the points but Kunitz is the healthier option. Overall this four-man power play unit topped the list with seven points while on the ice together.

 

Chris Kreider-Rick NashMartin St. Louis (NY Rangers) — Some line for the Rangers had to score and naturally it is this one. They also had seven points combined in the shortened week. The big beneficiary on the line had to be Rick Nash, who had three goals and an assist while the Rangers went 1-2 as he became a father on Sunday night. This line will be asked to carry the load until Derek Stepan comes back, which should at the very least spread the scoring lines out again.

 

Daniel SedinHenrik SedinLinden VeyRadim Vrbata (Vancouver) — They are going to have some misses but a half dozen points together on the four-man power play unit is significant. The first power play unit was put out there at a 55.6% clip (60% is considered a strong majority). Expect that percentage to rise as the Sedin twins and Radim Vrbata have some real chemistry together. If Vancouver is going to get it done on the man advantage then this is it or it is almost nothing.

 

Defend This

 

T.J. BrodieMark Giordano (Calgary) — Though Victor Hedman is stealing the headlines, Mark Giordano should get some consideration as a dark horse for Norris Trophy consideration. They led the way with five points together as a duo while Giordano had three points and a defensive presence to go along with Brodie's two. This second week is going to be telling as can the pair keep producing at a steady enough rate offensively to maybe not be on our list but at least be in the top ten? Stay tuned!

 

Dan HamhuisChris Tanev (Vancouver) — Early on, you can always expect a few surprises and this is one of them as the Vancouver pair tallied four points overall. These are the duos you don't expect to see on this list too often going forward and as the schedule stiffens a bit in the second week, one can say goodbye to the top list. Hey, it was nice while it lasted. However, Dan Hamhuis can put up decent point totals at times and that really is not so bad. Keep in mind, it could be worse fantasy hockey fans.

 

Andrei MarkovP.K. Subban (Montreal) — Hey welcome to a pair that looks familiar on the list as they had four points in all while on the ice at the same time. Yes Johnny Boychuk was a champ in week one but this power play duo is one of the best in the league constantly. They have gained a bit of a boost from the Tomas Plekanec line surge but at some point Montreal will have to fix the power play overall as it looks downright stagnant at times. Otherwise, this duo may not see this list very often either and a pairing like Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman will find their way here next.

 

As always you can follow me @ChrisWasselTHW and thanks for reading. See you next week with four more line combination and three pairings for "Between The Lines".

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