Craig Berube's Recent Comments Indicate a New 3rd Line Likely for the Maple Leafs
Establishing a solid third line might be the biggest x-factor for any contending team and it sounds like the Toronto Maple Leafs have finally found theirs.
For close to a decade, the Toronto Maple Leafs have had one of the best cores in the NHL with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Morgan Rielly leading the charge.
Their top-6 was never in doubt because the aforementioned quartet of forwards carried the offense. What was always missing was a solid bottom-6, primarily a third line that could alleviate some pressure from their superstars.
It sounds like the Maple Leafs might have finally found theirs with Max Domi, Nick Robertson, and Bobby McMann.
After last night's 5-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, the story of the game more or less surrounded John Tavares' natural hat-trick that completed the comeback, but the effort from the third line was instrumental in keeping the game close.
Head coach Craig Berube was rather complimentary of the trio that combined for 2 goals, 4 assists, a +6 rating, 5 shots on goal, and 7 hits.
Tavares felt the same way and noted himself that their play was what kept the Leafs in the game long enough for his hat-trick to do the trick.
The Maple Leafs went full throttle to come back and beat the Sabres as they united Matthews, Marner, and Nylander on the top line part-way through the game, which was then followed by Tavares, Matthew Knies, and Max Pacioretty on the second line.
It might possibly be the best top-6 they've had in recent memory and the continued great play from the Domi-Robertson-McMann trio will be able to keep the lineup intact the way it is. There's a very good chance that their offense can take off to new levels with each line honing in on something unique and special, even if Nylander or Marner returns to the second line.
We will see how things play out on the heels of their victory on Sunday night when they visit the 18-11-0 Dallas Stars on the road on Wednesday night.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 16 | 3154 ANSWERS Craig Berube's Recent Comments Indicate a New 3rd Line Likely for the Maple Leafs Should the Toronto Maple Leafs keep Max Domi, Bobby McMann and Nick Robertson together? | ||
| Yes, they're very balanced | 1623 | 51.5 % |
| No, they should mix them up | 338 | 10.7 % |
| Give it a few games to see it works long-term | 1193 | 37.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
