At virtually all ages and levels of hockey, 'line chemistry' can be fickle.
It's 50% art, 50% science, and 100% difficult to find and maintain.
But the Columbus Blue Jackets may have found something with their recent usage of Boone Jenner, Gus Nyquist, and Patrik Laine. In the past three games, Laine has potted six goals (6-1-7), Nyquist has tallied 1-3-4, and Jenner has a game-winning goal. The trio has accounted for over half (8/15) of the team's goals over the past three games. And perhaps unsurprisingly, the Blue Jackets have gone 2-1-0 in those games. Per leftwinglock.com, the trio has played together 23% of all minutes over the club's last three games, tops of any forward line.
The line has a distinctive balance that is appealing for a coach. In Jenner, you have the blue-collar, corner-driving player that does much of the dirty work. In Nyquist, you have a cerebral playmaker that can slow the game down to his preferred pace. And in Laine you have a classic sniper, a guy who finishes off plays after guy #1 (Jenner) wins the puck and guy #2 (Nyquist) makes the play.
In the game against the Montreal Canadiens, a simple feed from Nyquist found Laine streaking through the neutral zone with speed. Laine used his pull-drag shot to beat goaltender Sam Montembeault.
NHL Video Highlight - Patrik Laine scores against the Montreal Canadiens to make it 1-1. pic.twitter.com/0Aafo8ZzZ5
— Blue Jackets Game Bot (@CBJGameBot) January 31, 2022
Coincidentally, in the loss against the Florida Panthers, Laine was primarily playing alongside Cole Sillinger and Jakub Voracek. The whole team struggled in preventing scoring chances, but Laine did create two turnovers that he converted into two goals. And further to the point, both of Laine's goals against the Washington Capitals came on the power play, and not alongside Nyquist.
nhl video highlight - patrik laine scores a power-play goal against the washington capitals to make it 2-1. pic.twitter.com/EZ9MllcP53
— Blue Jackets Game Bot (@CBJGameBot) February 9, 2022
The game-winning goal, though, was scored by the trio. The play started in the Blue Jackets end, with a quick-up from Vladislav Gavrikov to Laine. Laine drew in the pressure before passing to a streaking Jenner. Jenner cut to the middle and shot, and the rebound bounced right to Nyquist, who turned and found Jenner, who had grabbed inside position on his check. From there, all he had to do was go to his backhand to win the game for the Blue Jackets.
Gustav Nyquist Boone Jenner
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) February 9, 2022
Ending the Capspic.twitter.com/kwwTJmGoBH
A few caveats, before we get too ahead of ourselves. One, as mentioned, the line wasn't responsible for all of the offense, as some of the goals came on the power play (or via an empty net). Second, we're talking about an incredibly small sample size. And lastly, goals can distort information. Per NHL.com, these three forwards are at the very bottom of all Blue Jackets forwards in the past three games (who have played all three games) in terms of shot share, coming in around 44%. I suppose you could argue small sample size, there, as well, but the point is that they haven't been exactly tilting the ice in their favor. Instead, they're simply scoring goals.
Then again, there are worse things than that.
