Every team in the Stanley Cup playoffs has elite players headlining the roster, but winning teams are able to rely on all four lines to produce offense and that has made a significant impact on the success we've seen during this postseason.
Look no further than the Carolina Hurricanes, who are just one game away from punching a ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals. Coach Rod Brind'Amour has famously stated that he doesn't believe in numbering his forward lines -- a system that is serving him and the Canes well.
There's no need to number your lines when everyone is pitching in. Every single player aside from William Carrier has hit the scoresheet at least once, and eight players have tallied at least five points through nine games.
Taylor Hall is proving to be a big part of the squad following the blockbuster trade that brought him to Carolina. Hall has generated 20 scoring chances at 5v5 in 15:25 TOI per game, second only to Andrei Svechnikov. He also has the team's second-best Corsi for among forwards at a dominating 62.6%.
With Hall skating alongside Logan Stankoven and Jack Roslovic for the most part this series, the line is steamrolling the Capitals. It gets murky here as many would consider this the second line, but given the fact that they oftentimes match up against Washington's third line, it makes more sense to view them as "middle six". (They do also average fewer minutes than the Jordan Martinook line.)
Regardless, the trio holds the edge in shot attempts 28-7 at 5v5, including 12 scoring chances for and just 3 against per Natural Stat Trick. Not only are their possession numbers solid, but those three skaters have combined for six goals and 15 points total, including two game-winning goals.
Beyond the scoresheet, guys like Jesperi Kotkaniemi continue to make an impact. Carolina has 17 more shots and 37 more scoring chances than the opponent when Kotkaniemi is on the ice at 5v5. He has yet to find the back of the net but with 18 individual scoring chances, it's only a matter of time.
"It’s amazing. All over the board, we had guys stepping up... [T]o make the impact they had tonight was amazing."Seth Jarvis, to hurricanes.com
The Oilers are in the same boat as the Hurricanes, staring down an opportunity to win the series in Game 5 against the Golden Knights. Despite superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl leading the way, Edmonton is also reaping the benefits of rolling four reliable lines.
Eight Oilers skaters have at least seven points so far, tied with the Panthers for the most of any team in the NHL. In Edmonton's seven wins this postseason, three game-winning goals have been scored by players in the bottom six.
That includes the Game 4 shutout victory on Monday night. The trio of Evander Kane, Adam Henrique and Connor Brown produced two goals in the 3-0 win.
For a team that notoriously struggled with depth scoring during the regular season, it's had a major effect on their success in the playoffs. Everyone knows McDavid and Draisaitl are going to score, but having consistent production from throughout the lineup is making the Oilers tough to solve.
"Our depth has for the most part been carrying us through these playoffs and they're the reason we're in this spot right now."Leon Draisaitl, to NHL.com
Another player deserving of love is Vasily Podkolzin. He is averaging 10:01 per game, and yet the Oilers have a shot differential of +20 when he is on the ice in addition to outscoring opponents 5-2 at even strength. That's not to mention his Corsi-for of 60.6% -- only McDavid, Draisaitl, and Corey Perry are better in that category.
The 23-year-old has notched a goal and five assists so far while also recording 44 hits, which is second on the team to Zach Hyman. It's crucial being able to control the puck and then protect it physically, which leads to more zone time and more scoring chances.
When a team can count on all four of its forward lines to produce offense, that will translate to wins more often than not. Whether the Oilers and Hurricanes can close out their respective series in the next game, these squads have to thank the bottom six for their contributions.