All four lines look really good right now. I really think the addition of Steen has brought out a side of the Coyle-DeBrusk tandem that wasn't really there before. He compliments the two of them in a way the other guys they have cycled through don't. He's fast enough to keep up, without being so speedy that he gets negated by them. He plays with enough power that he isn't getting his doors blown off from the heavier third liners on the other team, and he can play in front of and away from the net. The three of them together are like a perfect third line pairing.The Coyle line was fantastic. Lets hope it continues. Seems to be real chemistry there.
Just wanted to second this. Steen's solo xGF has been among the best on the team (in a very small sample), right behind Bergeron the last time I checked. And more importantly, he's helped DeBrusk and Coyle find their games again. This game strikes me as the type of game they would lose 2-1 or in OT in the past - the top line was just okay today (57% xGF) and the second line struggled (47%). But today the 3rd line dominated the competition with 81% xGF and were 2-1 in actual goals.All four lines look really good right now. I really think the addition of Steen has brought out a side of the Coyle-DeBrusk tandem that wasn't really there before. He compliments the two of them in a way the other guys they have cycled through don't. He's fast enough to keep up, without being so speedy that he gets negated by them. He plays with enough power that he isn't getting his doors blown off from the heavier third liners on the other team, and he can play in front of and away from the net. The three of them together are like a perfect third line pairing.
I also think the Nosek-Foligno-Lazar line is a really solid 4th line, even though I don't think the advanced numbers are really backing that up right now. They are responsible in the defensive zone, but all of them have just enough offensive ability to make the other teams pay for mistakes.
Now, if they could figure the third defensive pairing out, we could be in business.