Quote:
Originally Posted by BigRed
The top line is carrying the team through the first part of the season like the Backlund line did last year. Everything else is off. The third line often looks good from a possession/pursuit POV but don't get much done offensively. They're a de facto 4th line, while the 4th line accomplishes nothing. $4.5 mln for Brouwer's zero goals hurts.
I think Brodie needs to go back with Giordano to sort his game out, and rebuild the D pairs from there.
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In EV Strength time on ice the Winnipeg 2nd line is Lowry-Copp-Tanev they have put up only 7 es goals . They are not very good except that the are all plus players and are the guys that get sent out against the other teams top-2 lines. The other teams best players have less than 7 es goals against them.
The Jets 3rd line (in terms of ev strength TOI) is Laine- Little- Ehlers. Not that they need to be protected from the other teams best players but it turns out they are.
The Flames need a 3rd line that can play against the other teams best lines and shut them down. Get better match-ups for Backlund's (-8 combined) line
Are Jankowski - Bennett - Brouwer that much less talented or hard working than Lowry-Copp- Tanev? Maybe Brouwer can't skate as a well as any of the Jets checkers and then maybe look at Lazar or Hathaway. If they were able to play even with the other teams top lines for 12 minutes a game the Flames would be better.
A checking 3rd line that can play even with the top lines seems to me to be the difference in what the Flames are now (bubble) and a home ice playoff team. That is the line that has to show up for even moderate playoff success.