[GranteedEV]

Not sure if it's just me, but I have been noticing Lance Bouma has been playing very well for a while; pretty much since Chiasson was ""demoted"" to the Stajan line and maybe even before then. He's been forechecking as effectively as he ever has and his defensive game has done a 180 from the days of sagging back and playing Lundqvist in the high slot. He's skating strongly and receiving pucks in stride in transition and he's been cycling as well as I have ever seen him cycle. The counting stats are not there but he has been effective in his checking role. I thought the Bouma-Bennett-Chiasson line looked strong last night in all three zones, although they did get caught with 3rd defense pair babysitting duties a couple times.