VGK’s Hard-Working Chip-And-Chase Line Key In Deciding Outcomes

It should come as no surprise that the most commonly used forward line for the Golden Knights this season is Ivan Barbashev, Jack Eichel, and Mark Stone. They’ve started 26 games together and have logged 305 minutes as a trio, making them the 14th most consistently used line in the entire NHL. What may come as a surprise though is which line ranks as the second most deployed line for VGK.

That would be Tanner Pearson, Nic Roy, and Keegan Kolesar.

The group first found themselves together early in the season against Los Angeles way back on October 22nd, Vegas’ 7th game of the season. It didn’t last long as William Karlsson’s season debut came two games later which broke them up. A few weeks later they were back together for a string of four games and then recently they’ve been together for seven of the last eight contests.

Their 13 games started and 131 minutes on ice together have them as the second most consistent forward line used by Bruce Cassidy this year. In fact, Vegas only have six lines who have seen more than 100 minutes together this year.

The stats will not jump off the page as they’ve been on the ice for five goals while surrendering just three, they are slightly positive in scoring chances created while slightly under 50% at shot attempts, shots on goal, and high-danger chances.

As a group though, they play an important role for a team constantly using a dominant top line. Pearson, Roy, and Kolesar have started just 32 of their 152 shifts in the offensive zone. They are expected to take shifts that begin either in the defensive or neutral zone, push the puck down to the other end, and give the line behind them a better situation to start in.

We have to have it and they have to be that line. They are the guys that have been there and done it, they’ve done it in a Stanley Cup run so they get it. In Dallas (last Friday), during that run at the end of the 2nd we needed that type of line. We need a couple of shifts to piggyback just to get the momentum back and get us off our heels and that’s what they are good at. -Bruce Cassidy

As a trio, they typically hold the keys for VGK success. When any of the three of Pearson, Roy, or Kolesar score, the Golden Knights are 13-2-2. That means they are 18-13-3 when they don’t.

In Sunday’s game against Florida, they combined for six points and contributed on three of Vegas’ four goals. Vegas beat the Panthers 4-1. Two nights later, they were held off the scoreboard completely and the Golden Knights lost in overtime.

We kept it simple. I think that was the message. Get pucks deep and try to make them make mistakes. -Nic Roy

We didn’t force too many plays. Played a chip-and-chase game and when we have our chances try to make plays then. -Tanner Pearson

A Pearson-Roy-Kolesar line is not going to strike fear in many opponents when they see the names on the page. Nor will it get the national media excited when they read the lineup sheet for the Golden Knights before a game. But, for this year’s team, which relies heavily on a top line and the power play, to have success that line must do their job and do it well. They do the dirty work, so Barbashev, Eichel, Stone, Hertl, Karlsson, Dorofeyev, and everyone else can do the fun stuff.