[Game Takes] Flames 5 Canucks 2

[Bingo]

Flames 5 Canucks 2

- Sutter mashes the lines
- Tkachuk goes off with Backlund and Dube
- Flames jump on the Canucks early and cruise

[nieuwy-89]

Tkachuk is a different player this year. He very quietly wins the vast majority of his board battles. He has elite hands, his in-close stick handling is ridiculous. And great vision. Still has that physical element and ability to get under the opponent’s skin. But it no longer defines him. He’s a top line winger in the league.

[Enoch Root]

Before last night's game, I would have said that it would be beyond foolish to split up the top line - you can't split up the best line in the game. You just can't.

But Tkachuk showed again what he has shown in the past - that he can produce even when he isn't on the top line, and that he and Backlund have some crazy chemistry. And if those two can produce together, it makes the lineup better.

Gaudreau - Lindholm - Toffoli (Toffoli can will produce there)
Dube - Backlund - Tkachuk (this just works, and Dube looked great there)
Mangiapane - Jarnkrok - Coleman (if that's your 3rd line, you're good)
Lucic - Monahan - Lewis (Lucic is starting to concern me, but if that's our worst problem...)

Again, sacrilege to break up the best line in the game, but these top 3 lines can all produce, and can all play a really solid 200 ft game.

I think the bottom line here is that, with the additions of Toffoli and Jarnkrok, that there is no so much depth that you can assemble the lines any way you want because you have 10 guys who can play in the top 9 (I am including Dube and Monahan in that)

That is a really solid top 9, and then you still have:

Monahan
Lewis
Lucic
Ritchie
Ruzicka
Richardson
(with Pelletier and Phillips in Stockton)

[Enoch Root]

Another thought on Dube - he has tools. And most importantly, he has a motor. The speed is there, the effort is there.

And if you play him with guys as smart as Backlund and Tkachuk, he can just focus on using his speed. As the F1, he is very effective. It simplifies his game and allows him to utilize the skills that he does have. And his speed compliments Tkachuk's game.

And if Dube can be effective in the top 9, it is a top 9 that has no holes at all.

[Zevo]

If the new lines click and stay together it also gives them a 30 goal scorer on each of the top 3 lines(once Tkachuk scores one more).

Makes it tougher for other teams to shut the Flames down.