[PGT] Flames 6 - Canucks 1

[FBI]

I think Brodie might do better with less ice time and less PP time..

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Don't look now, but that 4th line is no longer getting hemmed in their own zone all game, and zapping the energy right out of the team. No idea what the advanced metrics are, but I would say in the last handful of games, that 4th line has been at the very least holding its' own, if not pushing the pace more often than not.

Flames haven't had a regular 'garbage' line in at least a handful of games, and that is really refreshing to see (and at the start of the season, I felt that the 4th line would have been a good one, but have been tremendously disappointed since the start of the season).

I agree, but they haven't done it for long enough to outweigh the larger body of work that is the season as a whole. And while they've been decent enough for a 4th line but are still not a strong line in the context of the league as a whole.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by SebC

The distinction I'm drawing is that prior to Jankowski-Bennett breaking out, we had:

Scoring line (Monahan)
Two-way line (Backlund)
Garbage (Bennett)
Garbage (Stajan)

Now we have:

Scoring line (Monahan)
Scoring line (Jankowski)
Two-way line (Backlund)
Garbage (Stajan)

You might still see Backlund's line pass Jankowski's in minutes (particularly to close out games that we're winning), but they no longer have to be our shut down line and the secondary scoring threat at the same time. It's a huge change in dynamic.

Jankowski has breathed some life into Bennett. I think having a big center with some smarts has really helped Bennett, and definitely taken the pressure off him. There is still a lot of work to do for Bennett, but at least he is not on the path he was earlier this season. Still think he makes bad decisions and is way too impulsive rather than letting his instincts guide his game. Hopefully Bennett and Jankowski continue to improve and surpass the Backlund line in offense. I still contend that Tkachuk should be the other winger with Jankowski and Bennett, prepping for the possible loss of Backlund in free agency. Still some parts in the minors I would like to see what they can do, so we have options.

[howard_the_duck]

What's evolved in Bennett's game is his strength and tenacity on the cycle. He's using his speed and edge to his game to outwork opponents down low, where major credit has to be given to Jagr in rounding out this part of his game.

It gives the Flames offense a different look, with Gaudreau and Monahan being so prolific on the rush and in open ice, to then throw Bennett/Jankowski who are thriving with possession and the cycle game in the offensive zone.

It's still early days of this, but encouraging to see what could be a couple of long term duos for the Flames forward group.