The Utah Hockey Club’s hot streak continues as they soar in the standings and inch closer to a wild card spot. That’s because the team is getting scoring production all throughout the lineup, steady defence and stellar goaltending. With its win against the Minnesota Wild, Utah is 7-1-2 in its last ten games. However, there’s one line that Utah needs more from in order to take another step forward as the holiday break approaches. The third line of Lawson Crouse, Nick Bjugstad and Matias Maccelli hasn’t been producing as expected. Utah needs all lines rolling if it wishes to make the playoffs in the team’s inaugural season.
Struggles Continue for Utah Third Line
The Crouse, Bjugstad and Maccelli line has found it difficult to put up points all season so far. Crouse and Maccelli have played in all 31 games this season and have only recorded seven and ten points respectively. Bjugstad missed eight games due to an upper-body injury and has just eight points. They each have a negative plus/minus rating, so they’re struggling on defence as well. They’ve played together for a while now, but still can’t seem to find any chemistry.
Compared to last season, Crouse, Bjugstad and Maccelli are having down years this season. Crouse recorded 23 goals and 42 points, he now has just four this season after scoring at least 20 goals in the past three seasons. Bjugstad had the second best year of his career, recording 22 goals and 45 points. Maccelli had a career year last season, posting 57 points in all 82 games. The 24-year-old likely won’t get close to that number this time. They will be needed down the road if Utah makes the playoffs, so they must break their slumps at some point.
Learn from the Fourth Line
One way the third line can record more points is by taking notes from the fourth line. Utah’s bottom line consists of Michael Carcone, Kevin Stenlund and Alexander Kerfoot and they utilize a rugged and simple style. They’re always on the forecheck and never stop moving their feet, which are reasons for their recent success. According to Money Puck, the third line is ranked 13th among all of Utah’s line combinations in goals scored with one. Meanwhile, the fourth line is ranked fourth in the category with eight goals scored. An indication that the fourth line is currently outplaying the third.
Some more interesting numbers from Money Puck are the lines’ expected goals for percentages and expected goals per 60 minutes. The Stenlund line is ranked seventh with 54.4% and fourth with 2.91, while the Bjugstad line is second-to-last in both with 42.1% and 1.79 respectively. That’s a wide margin for a line that is supposed to be more skilled. Ice time can’t be a factor because the fourth line has played less minutes, but has more points. If the third line can copy the style the fourth line uses, maybe they’ll be able to record more points.
Time for Change?
Considering their struggles, it might be in the line’s best interests for Utah to split the trio up. The current combination of Crouse, Bjugstad and Maccelli hasn’t worked, so a change could be beneficial to Utah. The other lines on Utah have clicked lately, but sometimes all it takes is replacing one player with another. Despite the team’s current form, the line has had trouble getting on the scoresheet.
Maccelli has one point in the last 15 games, Crouse has three in the last 25, and Bjugstad has two in the last 12. There’s a lot of skill on this line and it’s expected to add offence to Utah’s lineup, which has been difficult. Head coach Andre Tourigny has a decision to make regarding the third line as the other lines are playing well. Utah might have to just hope the offence eventually breaks out for the trio.
Main Photo: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images
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