The Avalanche’s top line has produced 48 points in 13 games played — approximately 38% of the team’s total (126 points). Nathan MacKinnon leads in goals (10) and points (19), with Martin Necas right behind him (9G, 8A). Artturi Lehkonen is ranked fourth in points with 12 (4G, 8A).
Talent and skill alone do not make this line successful; communication and chemistry are also crucial in its production.
“We really know where each other is on the ice, with Nate and with Lehky (Lehkonen), and I feel like it’s been good,” Necas said. “I don’t know how many points we have, but we could have scored so many more goals then what we did, and we create every game a lot. We’re playing good defensive-side game. We usually beat our matchups, so that’s going to be our goal for rest of the season, and just keep doing the same thing we’ve been doing. Definitely, the chemistry has been good.”
The Avs currently have the most points in the league with 19. The Winnipeg Jets and Utah Mammoth are on their heels in the Western Conference with 18 and 16 points, respectively, and one less game in hand. The Jets’ top line (Kyle Connor – Mark Scheifele – Gabriel Vilardi) is the only steady line in the West with more points (50) than the Avs’ top line.
“Good on those guys for making sure that they have the right level of communication, that they’re talking about the right things, whether they’re frustrated with one another or happy with one another, whatever is going on,” head coach Jared Bednar said about his No. 1 line. “They’re doing it all for the right reasons, so they can find the chemistry that they need and be as effective as they are. And they’re out to a great start, like one of the best lines, if not the best offensive line in the game right now. It’s something we need, we need it to continue, and they’ll continue to work at it too.”
Whether it’s MacKinnon’s drive, intensity, competitiveness or all of the above, he has a gift to make players who play with him better. He and Necas weren’t expected to click right off the bat, but they have developed a powerful, productive bond.
“The chemistry certainly makes a difference. We talked about last year how him and Nate were kind of doing the same things. They seem to have cured that issue,” Bednar said. “I will say that nothing happens just organically, though; they work at it.”
The trio’s work has paid off. While there have been shifts in the other lines, there is no reason to change the winning combo at the top.
