I thought bowman looked as good as he ever has last game when he got his shot. He played well enough to get another chance. As far as skinner having no chemistry with his teamates, early on he had chemistry with cole, he worked with the Finns and I even thought late last game he looked good with staal. I know that failed in the past but things change. It's rare when first lines stay intact for years. A pairing may last that long but the third guy often gets switched up. Skinner will find chemistry with someone.
Our first line isn't playing the cycle game that made it effective last year. When they got on a roll they were playing a fourth line game. They just out worked guys to pucks, pulled off a two pass cycle and took it to the net. Teams can't defend a well run cycle with guys that skilled for long, it breaks the d down and those three can take advantage when it does. That's all they did last year, play a grinding cycle game you wouldn't expect from those three. This year they are playing off the rush more, one chance and out. Not digging the pucks out of the corners as well.