Line Combos: Playoff Lines

[Avilaj07]

Bertuzzi-Matthews-Domi

You have your net front presence in Bertuzzi who is still skilled enough to make plays. Domi is your primary set up man, and with these 2 guys on his line, I feel like it'll bring out more of the physicality in Matthews

Mcmann-Tavares-Marner

Mcmann is your Hyman on this line. Has the speed and skill to forecheck and retain the puck. Marner is the set up man, and it gives Tavares 2 solid defensive wingers.

Knies-Nylander-Jarnkrok

With 3 line matchups, this line should be able to dominate. While it's not ideal to have Nylander at center, having Jarnkrok on this line gives him some support in the defensive zone.

Holmberg-Kampf-Dewar

A solid shutdown 4th line who can pitch in with some offense as well.

Defense-
Rielly-McCabe
Benoit-Liljegren
Edmundson-Brodie
Lyubushkin

Healthy Scratch-
Robertson
Gregor
Reaves
Timmons

Click to read more...

 

[Gary Nylund]

I like your lines. Main thing is to put Marner back with JT, keep Matthews with Domi and put Nylander on a 3rd line. 3 scoring lines for the playoffs, I like it!

 

[Avilaj07]

I like your lines. Main thing is to put Marner back with JT, keep Matthews with Domi and put Nylander on a 3rd line. 3 scoring lines for the playoffs, I like it!

Ideally your 2nd and 3rd lines play roughly the same minutes with obviously the stars getting their extra minutes on the pp.

 

[leafsfan5]

Nylander cannot play Center and will not in a series imo

Bertuzzi - Matthews - Domi
Knies - Tavares - Marner
Jarnkrok - Holmberg - Nylander
Dewar - Kampf - McMann

I don’t particularly like Holmberg at 3C but Nylander should be able to carry the line

 

[Avilaj07]

Nylander cannot play Center and will not in a series imo

Bertuzzi - Matthews - Domi
Knies - Tavares - Marner
Jarnkrok - Holmberg - Nylander
Dewar - Kampf - McMann

I don’t particularly like Holmberg at 3C but Nylander should be able to carry the line

Mcmann deserves to be higher up in the lineup. I'm sorry but Knies hasn't shown me anything this year to warrant him being in the top 6 come playoff time. Mcmann has been able to produce when given minutes, and having someone like Marner getting him the puck should make it that much better.

 

[ACC1224]

Bertuzzi-Matthews-Domi

You have your net front presence in Bertuzzi who is still skilled enough to make plays. Domi is your primary set up man, and with these 2 guys on his line, I feel like it'll bring out more of the physicality in Matthews

Mcmann-Tavares-Marner

Mcmann is your Hyman on this line. Has the speed and skill to forecheck and retain the puck. Marner is the set up man, and it gives Tavares 2 solid defensive wingers.

Knies-Nylander-Jarnkrok

With 3 line matchups, this line should be able to dominate. While it's not ideal to have Nylander at center, having Jarnkrok on this line gives him some support in the defensive zone.

Holmberg-Kampf-Dewar

A solid shutdown 4th line who can pitch in with some offense as well.

Defense-
Rielly-McCabe
Benoit-Liljegren
Edmundson-Brodie
Lyubushkin

Healthy Scratch-
Robertson
Gregor
Reaves
Timmons

Bertuzzi and Domi aren't strong enough defensively to play on the top line.
You can have one or the other but not both.

 

[Magic Man]

Bertuzzi - Matthews - Jarnkrok
Knies - Tavares - Marner
McMann - Domi - Nylander
Dewar - Kampf - Reaves
ex. Robertson - Holmberg - Gregor

Rielly - Lyubushkin
Benoit - McCabe
Edmundson - Liljegren
ex. Giordano - Brodie
Timmins

Woll
Samsonov
ex. Jones
Murray

3 scoring lines and a limited 4th line. A Marner/JT combo and a Domi/Nylander combo with Matthews pairing with Bertuzzi. Each line and pairing have at least one guy who can handle themselves physically. There is a pure shutdown defenseman paired with a puck mover on each pairing.

Brodie - soft, old and slow and Robertson - soft and weak defensively sit to start despite their reputation. I expect the top-11 forwards to see time all the way through, the 12th forward (Reaves) will be a variety of different players subbing in for one another.

 

[Gary Nylund]

Bertuzzi - Matthews - Jarnkrok
Knies - Tavares - Marner
McMann - Domi - Nylander
Dewar - Kampf - Reaves
ex. Robertson - Holmberg - Gregor

Rielly - Lyubushkin
Benoit - McCabe
Edmundson - Liljegren
ex. Giordano - Brodie
Timmins

Woll
Samsonov
ex. Jones
Murray

3 scoring lines and a limited 4th line. A Marner/JT combo and a Domi/Nylander combo with Matthews pairing with Bertuzzi. Each line and pairing have at least one guy who can handle themselves physically. There is a pure shutdown defenseman paired with a puck mover on each pairing.

Brodie - soft, old and slow and Robertson - soft and weak defensively sit to start despite their reputation. I expect the top-11 forwards to see time all the way through, the 12th forward (Reaves) will be a variety of different players subbing in for one another.

This looks good to me. Make it happen Keefe.

 

[crump]

Knies and McMann are pretty good on the same line. Even with Kampf as a defensive presence they were dynamic. Knies was playing some of his best hockey with McMann. Assuming this thought experiment is because Domi and Matthews had a good game together I’ll bite….

Bertuzzi. Matthews. Domi
Jarnkrok. Tavares. Marner
Knies. Nylander. McMann
Dewar. Kampf. Holmberg/Reaves

Rielly - Lyubushkin
Benoit - McCabe
Edmundson - Liljegren/Timmins
Gio. Brodie

 

[LeafEgo]

On defense maximize our playoff star in Rielly, acknowledge our lack of top 4 talent, but appreciate our surplus of bottom 4 players that can eat playoff minutes.

Roll three D lines evenly with Rielly stealing minutes from Lily.

Rielly-Boosh
Ed-Lily (Rielly-Ed)
Benny-McCabe

 

[Rare Jewel]

Bertuzzi. Matthews. Domi
Jarnkrok. Tavares. Marner
Knies. Nylander. McMann
Dewar. Kampf. Holmberg/Reaves

I don't mind this, particularly if that top line keeps rolling; I tend to like Matthews more away from Marner or even Nylander at the moment.

The only alteration I'd make is to the middle two lines.

Kronk/Knies - JT - Nylander
Knies/Kronk/McMann - Holmberg - Marner


The three musketeers on three separate lines (like you have as well) will create a match issue for either Bos or Fla.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Bertuzzi - Matthews - Jarnkrok
Knies - Tavares - Marner
McMann - Domi - Nylander
Dewar - Kampf - Reaves
ex. Robertson - Holmberg - Gregor

Rielly - Lyubushkin
Benoit - McCabe
Edmundson - Liljegren
ex. Giordano - Brodie
Timmins

Woll
Samsonov
ex. Jones
Murray

3 scoring lines and a limited 4th line. A Marner/JT combo and a Domi/Nylander combo with Matthews pairing with Bertuzzi. Each line and pairing have at least one guy who can handle themselves physically. There is a pure shutdown defenseman paired with a puck mover on each pairing.

Brodie - soft, old and slow and Robertson - soft and weak defensively sit to start despite their reputation. I expect the top-11 forwards to see time all the way through, the 12th forward (Reaves) will be a variety of different players subbing in for one another.

I like that, but I really liked Domi on the wing better than at centre, so I'd be interested in seeing if:

McMann - Nylander - Domi

would work. Domi digs and sets up and Willy is the trigger man.

 

[TMLAM34]

Bertuzzi - Matthews - Jarnkrok
Knies - Tavares - Marner
McMann - Domi - Nylander
Dewar - Kampf - Gregor

Rielly - Lyubushkin
Edmundson - Liljegren
Benoit - McCabe


But I would give Domi an extended look next to Matthews right now to see if the chemistry sticks.

 

[LeafEgo]

I like that, but I really liked Domi on the wing better than at centre, so I'd be interested in seeing if:

McMann - Nylander - Domi

would work. Domi digs and sets up and Willy is the trigger man.

Does Domi work on the right? Would open up opportunities.

From early in the season I was hoping to see Domi-Willy-Jarn. Domi can support Willys rush game, Jarn can help with responsibilities.

 

[RunItBackAgain]

I don't know but do any other contenders not know what a single line or who their starting goalie are for their team by this point in the season? And it's not the first time.

 

[Puckstuff]

Bertuzzi-Matthews-Domi
McMann-Tavares-Marner
Robertson-Holmberg-Nylander
Knies-Kampf-Jarnkrok

 

[Zybalto]

I expect huge recency bias in here abd I'd have to think about it a bit more but the main things for me would be:

1. Matthews and Marner must play together:

Matthews hasn't scored a 5v5 goal without Marner in the playoffs in years and every time they are split up has been a mistake.

2. If for some crazy reason, you actually split them up, don't put Marner with Tavares. It hasn't worked for years either.

3. Don't put Domi at center in a significant role. A 3rd line with two way guys like McMann and Jarnkrok would work very well though IMO. Playing on the wing in a top 6 role could work and give us flexibility for sure.

I don't know but do any other contenders not know what a single line or who their starting goalie are for their team by this point in the season? And it's not the first time.

Only been a problem for the last half decade right? Can't wait to get out goalied again and we get 100000 posts blaming everything else.

 

[ACC1224]

I expect huge recency bias in here abd I'd have to think about it a bit more but the main things for me would be:

1. Matthews and Marner must play together:

Matthews hasn't scored a 5v5 goal without Marner in the playoffs in years and every time they are split up has been a mistake.

2. If for some crazy reason, you actually split them up, don't put Marner with Tavares. It hasn't worked for years either.

3. Don't put Domi at center in a significant role. A 3rd line with two way guys like McMann and Jarnkrok would work very well though IMO. Playing on the wing in a top 6 role could work and give us flexibility for sure.



Only been a problem for the last half decade right? Can't wait to get out goalied again and we get 100000 posts blaming everything else.

I don't know about the 'can't wait' part, I'd prefer that doesn't happen at all but which goalie do gives us the most confidence right now?
I'm still leaning towards Woll.

 

[TMLAM34]

I don't know about the 'can't wait' part, I'd prefer that doesn't happen at all but which goalie do gives us the most confidence right now?
I'm still leaning towards Woll.

At the moment, it’s gotta be Samsonov with a short leash. But lots of games left to figure that out, goalies are so unpredictable… Woll might go on a heater in the last ten. Ride the hotter one into the playoffs.

 

[Torontonian]

Bert - 34 - 16
McMann - JT - 88
Knies - Domi - Jarnkrok
Holmberg - Kampf - Dewar

 

[notDatsyuk]

Does Domi work on the right? Would open up opportunities.

From early in the season I was hoping to see Domi-Willy-Jarn. Domi can support Willys rush game, Jarn can help with responsibilities.

He seemed to do pretty well with Matty on Wednesday. I think both he and Willy can play either without the traditional C/RW feel.

 

[Zybalto]

I don't know about the 'can't wait' part, I'd prefer that doesn't happen at all but which goalie do gives us the most confidence right now?
I'm still leaning towards Woll.

Leaning that way as well although the "ride the hotter one", as was mentioned earlier, is probably the best bet.

Bert - 34 - 16
McMann - JT - 88
Knies - Domi - Jarnkrok
Holmberg - Kampf - Dewar

This is probably close to what we will see although the top 3 LW are all interchangeable for chemistry.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

Bertuzzi - Matthews - Jarnkrok

Matthews needs one of Marner or Domi to get him the puck, Jarnkrok cannot do that...I think you're limiting the top line's potential while strengthening the 2nd & 3rd lines.

Whatever the strategy ends up being, Keefe needs to settle on a plan and settle soon. Remember last year? He was shuffling lineups up until the last week of the season...not ideal. The lines need some consistency and each player needs to be confident with the role they're going in with.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Keefe will shuffle the lines multiple times before the playoffs start and I honestly have no idea what to expect. If I were to guess, I think he'll start with something like this:

Knies-Matthews-Marner
Bertuzzi-Domi-Nylander
McMann-Tavares-Jarnkrok
Dewar-Kampf-Reaves

Rielly-Lyubushkin
Brodie-McCabe
Edmundson-Liljegren

 

[Larcos_Unal]

Keefe will shuffle the lines multiple times before the playoffs start and I honestly have no idea what to expect. If I were to guess, I think he'll start with something like this:

Knies-Matthews-Marner
Bertuzzi-Domi-Nylander
McMann-Tavares-Jarnkrok
Dewar-Kampf-Reaves

Rielly-Lyubushkin
Brodie-McCabe
Edmundson-Liljegren

Knies ain't playing on that 1st line, his play has dropped off pretty significantly in the second half of the season.