Avalanche top line has combined for 38 points in 8 games.

[pikkuvaimo]

beauty snipe by Nate. amazing player to watch.

What do you think about Rantanen in that clip? Was he any good?

 

[tucker3434]

that's the only way they can score though. they aren't good enough to score against the best line in the league

You gotta know when you make a comment like that during a game, it’s going to come back and bite you. Top line versus top line at even strength was 1-0 Avs.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Avs top line made mincemeat of the Boston top line tonight.

Pretty much. Gotta love Eastern bias saying the Bruins line was always better. Anybody who actually watched the two teams knew it was the MacK line. Last night proved it.

 

[BB88]

I still remember the comment from x that it would be the biggest mistake to draft Rantanen in the top15, just doesn't have the offense.

Pretty much. Gotta love Eastern bias saying the Bruins line was always better. Anybody who actually watched the two teams knew it was the MacK line. Last night proved it.

Nobody should use 1 game sample size to anything.

 

[Cousin Eddie]

I thought the Avs top line were better than the Bruins top line last night but I don’t think they dominated them by any means. Certainly more even than people here are making it sound.

What tells the story best though is the fact that Cassidy started the game confidently allowing those matchups to happen but by the third period he split up his top line and did everything he could to change those matchups and keep them away from the Gabe line.

 

[wintersej]

I thought the Avs top line were better than the Bruins top line last night but I don’t think they dominated them by any means.

What tells the story best though is the fact that Cassidy started the game confidently allowing those matchups to happen but by the third period he split up his top line and did everything he could to change those matchups and keep them away from the Gabe line.

The Avs top line was better.... but that is not what happened. Boston split up the #1 line for one shift.

 

[Duodenum]

Rantanen has been really good this year. Best player through 20 games.

 

[BostonBruins11]

Pretty much. Gotta love Eastern bias saying the Bruins line was always better. Anybody who actually watched the two teams knew it was the MacK line. Last night proved it.

The only argument is because the Bruins 1st line has been the best over the past 2 years.
More importantly they have been the best Defensive top line while still contributing great offensive numbers for 3+ years.
Consistency is key here.

With that being said I'm really impressed with the Avs 1st line. It's nice to see a bigger, skilled and more physical line succeed(rare now-a-days, almost like the mythical unicorn) it's definitely a breath of fresh air .
I could definitely see them becoming the best offensive first line in the league over the next 3-5 years(starting this year).

 

[Colorado Avalanche]

The only argument is because the Bruins 1st line has been the best over the past 2 years.
More importantly they have been the best Defensive top line while still contributing great offensive numbers for 3+ years.
Consistency is key here.

With that being said I'm really impressed with the Avs 1st line. It's nice to see a bigger, skilled and more physical line succeed(rare now-a-days, almost like the mythical unicorn) it's definitely a breath of fresh air .
I could definitely see them becoming the best offensive first line in the league over the next 3-5 years(starting this year).

You do realize they played together last season as well? MacK and Rantanen put up crazy points totals last season.

 

[BostonBruins11]

You do realize they played together last season as well? MacK and Rantanen put up crazy points totals last season.

Yes i do and so did the Bruins line, Bergeron(.98PPG) and Pastrnak (.97PPG) where nearly 1 PPG while Marchand was way over PPG (1.25PPG).
But again what makes the Bruins line impressive is not the offensive numbers IMO but their combined offensive/defensive ability.
They are the "Selke line" if there ever was such an award.

 

[CupsOverCash]

Giving that line in Boston a run for their money.

 

[BostonBruins11]

Definitely better than any Leaf line thats for sure!

 

[tucker3434]

The only argument is because the Bruins 1st line has been the best over the past 2 years.
More importantly they have been the best Defensive top line while still contributing great offensive numbers for 3+ years.
Consistency is key here.

With that being said I'm really impressed with the Avs 1st line. It's nice to see a bigger, skilled and more physical line succeed(rare now-a-days, almost like the mythical unicorn) it's definitely a breath of fresh air .
I could definitely see them becoming the best offensive first line in the league over the next 3-5 years(starting this year).

I don’t think consistency is the right word. The Avs top line has been mighty consistent for the 100 games they’ve been together. But it is fair to tip the scales in the Bruins favor due to the defensive side of things. There’s no doubt they have the best two way line in hockey. MacKinnon and Rantanen will have to stay near the top of the art ross race and Landeskog will need to be 70+ to overcome the defensive gap.

 

[The Abusement Park]

This goal is so effortless. Amazing line!

Juked out Marchand and Bergeron too on that play. Such a beast.

 

[WarriorOfGandhi]

Definitely better than any Leaf line thats for sure!

I'm sorry, let me know when any Avalanche player can, you know, get their team to the playoffs in the highest-pressure and best hockey market on the planet.

 

[BostonBruins11]

Avs made the playoffs last year...

 

[Silencio]

I'm sorry, let me know when any Avalanche player can, you know, get their team to the playoffs in the highest-pressure and best hockey market on the planet.

What about highest altitude?

 

[TruePowerSlave]

I'm sorry, let me know when any Avalanche player can, you know, get their team to the playoffs in the highest-pressure and best hockey market on the planet.

Lame

 

[El Travo]

I'm sorry, let me know when any Avalanche player can, you know, get their team to the playoffs in the highest-pressure and best hockey market on the planet.

Matt Hunwick.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

The Bruins having three elite forwards (and defensive play) is all that keeps them ahead of Mackinnon and Rantanen. I don't think Landeskog is in the same tier as the other five players.

I've always been a fan of Mackinnon for his blazing speed but that Rantanen was very, very impressive last night. Colorado building around them is a good thing.

 

[Lonewolfe2015]

I don't think Landeskog is in the same tier as the other five players.

Landy might be the worst of the 2 lines, but he isn't a tier below. He's scoring at the same pace as Marchand and every bit the equal defensively. He's tied for third in goalscoring.

Give the guy credit, he's in his prime and every bit at their level.

 

[Mighty Makar]

I still think the Bruins’ 1st line is the best in the league. Bergeron does everything!

 

[Critical13]

Both teams are asking the question - can a team win with 1 great line and nothing great behind them? Dallas is up there too, I wouldn't be surprised if all 3 lines scored 50%+ of their teams points.

 

[LeftHeartInSF]

Both teams are asking the question - can a team win with 1 great line and nothing great behind them? Dallas is up there too, I wouldn't be surprised if all 3 lines scored 50%+ of their teams points.

That tactic seems to be 1 injury away from disaster.

 

[Critical13]

That tactic seems to be 1 injury away from disaster.

True, but I remember Boston having injuries last year and they still came top 5 in the league.

I've always thought depth was the better strat but these two just keep winning games.

Big difference in the way they operate compared to Tampa, Nashville, Toronto or Winnipeg, who don't have the top scorers but have lots of talent depth in their lineups.