Based on the way Peters only puts Neal on Backlund's line when we're trailing, he realizes it increases our chance of scoring but hurts the Backlund line's shutdown ability enough that it's not gonna be a consistent line.
With how Gaudreau and Lindholm have had instant chemistry, a part of me wonders if it's worth exploring a lineup like:
Gaudreau-Lindholm-X (Maybe Gaudreau-Lindholm-Neal?)
Tkachuk-Monahan-X (Maybe Tkachuk-Monahan-Bennett?)
X-Backlund-X (Dube-Backlund-Frolik?)
Obviously you don't break up the top line now with the way they're producing, but down the line it'd be awesome to have 2 consistent scoring lines AND a Backlund-centered matchup line.
Also good to see Bennett showing up on so many of these lists in a positive way. I can't believe how bad his luck has been to start this year between early whistles taking away goals, unlucky bounces where we score a goal but Bennett somehow doesn't get a point, and posts hit. He could easily have 8-10 points if not more.
Weird to see Hanifin getting buried as well. I'd've thought we'd be leaning on Brodano more heavily while Hamonic was injured.
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