Restless, ambitious, open-minded. In many ways Anthony Cirelli, Mathieu Joseph, and Alex Killorn personify the Millennial generation. They are crackling with energy. They fly around the offensive zone like vultures, swooping in to dispossess opponents from the puck and whip it on net. They have an outstanding Corsi for percentage of 57.33 as a line, and that is over a large sample size of 161 minutes at 5v5.
Two of these players also represent the NHL at its most newfangled. Instead of a brute checking line with girth and power, which was the standard-bearer before the 2004 lockout, the Lightning have two rookies who are avatars of an NHL geared toward speed and skill. The league has spent the last decade-plus trying to change the game to make it safer and faster, and Cirelli and Joseph represent this change.
Cirelli is a string bean, but in today’s NHL, his sinewy build does not inhibit his efficacy. In the early aughts, he would have been pummeled and brutalized. The obstruction previously permitted would have rendered him much less influential and his body much more sore. Instead, Cirelli can be a menace because he has a lively stick and always seems to have an eye on splitting the defensemen for a possible breakaway opportunity.
Joseph has a more muscular build, and his speed would be an asset in any era. But what makes him a byproduct of a safer NHL is how he can pinball down the ice with such reckless abandon. In a different time, a Scott Stevens-type would have possibly ended his career when he accelerated full speed with the puck and tried to pull a right turn at the goal line. (This fear was realized to a modest extent on the Jamie Oleksiak hit against Pittsburgh.) But opponents know not to drill their colleagues in dangerous areas, and the most dangerous hits in open ice have been legislated out of the game. Joseph can bore a hole in the defense with his speed and linear trajectory and opponents can only neutralize it with their speed and skill.
Killorn is a bit of a relic from the old NHL. A brawny power forward who protects the puck well in the corner, he still helps this line stay lean in how they attack. He is a good passer in tight spaces, and like Joseph and Cirelli, he has a good stick and supports the puck in all three zones.
My favorite play from the Cirelli-Killorn duo was when Yanni Gourde joined them because Joseph had a brief stint with Brayden Point and Tyler Johnson.
The Cirelli line is resilient. They never give up on a play and are undaunted when faced with adversity. Killorn has only potted two goals on the season and had one waived off against the Predators. Against Nashville, Cirelli was tripped up and took a puck to the head. It took Joseph 13 games to score his first NHL goal. But they slough off frustrating sequences and try harder. That is impressive focus, and also illustrates maturation, especially from the rookies.
The entire line should have more goals. Their Scoring Chances percentage is 58.13. They have accrued 93 Scoring Chances at 5v5. For perspective, the Nikita Kucherov-Steven Stamkos-J.T. Miller line only has a 54.62 Scoring Chances percentage. And if you remove Miller, Kucherov and Stamkos have still collected less Scoring Chances. And with more time on ice together!
The goals will come. This line just needs to stay feisty. Coach Jon Cooper clearly believes in them as they have stayed the relative constant while other lines have mixed and matched. The thing I love about Joseph’s first goal is that it offers a snapshot of what makes this line special.
Imposing themselves with quick puck movement. Staying above the play but being able to pierce the gaps in a defense when they open up. This line is as smart as they are fast. It is thrilling to imagine what the future has in store.