It's been difficult to really put combinations together that would work, and I think we have to abandon the idea of trying to create a shutdown line because it just leaves other areas too exposed. We'll have to put alternate combinations together situationally, but I think what I would like to see is:
Bertuzzi - Matthews - Domi
Nylander - Tavares - Marner
Robertson - Holmberg - Jarnkrok
Knies - Kampf - McMann
It spreads our 4 best defensive forwards (Matthews, Marner, Jarnkrok, Kampf) across the lines to help support the rest of the lineup. Top line has been hot, so might as well ride the wave. That allows us to stack up the 2nd line. Tavares can go to the net and Marner and Nylander can work their magic and get pucks inside. Nylander has history playing on that off side. Takes apart the dominant Matthews-Marner duo, but Matthews still has a playmaker in Domi, and Marner still has two of the best shots on the team to get passes to. They have been at 65.8 and 66.7 xGF% respectively.
In, the bottom six, we have Robertson's shot to drive the 3rd line, and we give him some familiarity and defensive support. Robertson-Holmberg have featured in a number of good line combinations and Robertson - Jarnkrok have featured in a number of good line combinations, so I think it could work. Kampf allows the big body wingers to forecheck and work down low. Knies has also shown an ability recently to individually elevate against lesser competition, so he could add some scoring pop, and both he and McMann have good shots.
Rielly - Lyubushkin
McCabe - Liljegren
Brodie - Benoit/Edmundson
I tried to find the combinations that have worked best together, and spread out the talent. Rielly has familiarity with Lyubushkin, and they compliment each other's skillsets. They have a 56.6 xGF% together. McCabe-Liljegren have a 61.5 xGF%. This can ease some responsibility on Brodie. He's worked well with both Benoit and Edmundson, putting up good defensive results and a 70.6 xGF%. Benoit has been better for us this year, but Edmundson does have the experience.
Samsonov
Woll
Samsonov seems like our starter right now. He's had a bumpy few games recently but has generally been good since returning. He came up big in game 6 of the 1st round last year, and he deserves first shot. Woll has shown flashes and generally played well when he came in against our likely opponent last year, but he is still quite raw and has struggled a bit more recently. Murray potentially being available down the road is a wild card if he shows that he's healed. A big body goalie with cups and a lot of playoff experience.
