Winners of five of their last six games, the Dallas Stars have been playing some very good hockey of late. If that is not sufficiently compelling reason to watch the team play, tracking the development of the team's top line should do the trick.
Even before Lindy Ruff promoted 18-year-old rookie Valeri Nichushkin to the top line with Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn, it was already a dangerous unit no matter who was its third member. With Nichushkin added to the mix, the line's potential is staggering as his linemates continue their emergence among the NHL's top players and the rookie gains valuable experience.
I would go so far as to say that -- assuming all three line members stay healthy and the line remains intact for the long haul -- the trio could become one of the most dominating lines in the entire NHL within the next few years.
Last night in Calgary, the trio gave a glimpse of its staggering potential in a 7-3 blowout win over the Flames. Seguin potted four goals and an assist. Benn notched one goal and five assists. Nichuskhin chipped in a pair of helpers. Of course, no line can produce at that level on a regular basis in the NHL, but it is easy to envision this trio having many dominant nights to come when all three members bring their A-games.
This is not a compliment I'd toss around lightly: The dynamic of the Seguin line reminds me of many of the elements I saw in Philadelphia's original Legion of Doom line when all three among Eric Lindros, John LeClair and Mikael Renberg were healthy. Seguin, Benn and Nichushkin bring a combination of size and speed, muscle and finesse, and killer instinct and pure skill that might not be exactly proportioned like that of the L.O.D. (first and foremost because I have never seen an individual combo of slick skill and brute force the equal of the pre-concussion issue Lindros) but the same essential elements are in place.
Coming off Wednesday's 3-0 win in Edmonton -- a deceptive final score because the final two goals were empty netters in the final minute of regulation -- the Stars' top line exploded last night in Calgary. It was quite a sight to see.
The Stars finish up their three-game western Canada road trip on Monday in Vancouver.
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