Recently, the Utah Hockey Club‘s (14-11-5) head coach André Tourigny rolled with forwards Lawson Crouse, Nick Bjugstad and Matias Maccelli on the third line. Last season, these three played 58 games together for the Arizona Coyotes and generated the most goals for of all the team’s forward line combinations. The trio also recorded a plus-4 rating.
However, in 14 games together this season, Crouse, Bjugstad and Maccelli’s line have mustered one goal for and four goals against. Here’s a look at Utah’s third-line struggles this season.
Utah’s Line Juggling
Before the team’s recent success (winners of four of their last five games), Tourigny faced inconsistent play from the forward core. Thus, the third line, particularly Maccelli, has had to play on several different lines. Here’s a look at all the lines the Finnish native has skated on:
Lawson Crouse — Nick Bjugstad — Matias Maccelli…