The Buffalo Sabres won their game last night against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the second line was something that was noticeably on fire for the entire game.
All season long, the Buffalo Sabres have struggled to find some key secondary scoring. The offense has come almost exclusively off the sticks of Jack Eichel, Jeff Skinner, and Sam Reinhart. Last night we got a great look at a potential stud second line to finally chip in some key secondary scoring in Conor Sheary–Casey Mittelstadt–Evan Rodrigues.
Right from the get go, this line was firing on all cylinders. Moving pucks up ice, crisp passing, and scoring the first and game winning goals. Coach Phil Housley seems to have found a great way to utilize these three players, as their playing styles bounce really well off of one another. When this line is broken down, its easy to see why they work so well together.
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Conor Sheary is a fast and smart player with a solid goal scoring touch. He isn’t the largest player on the ice standing at a mere 5’8, but his foot speed is what gives him enough open space to make scoring chances count. He is still a tough player despite his stature as well, as he is great at working the corners and can play pretty well in front of the net. He currently has 21 points in 45 games (8G, 13A) and if he continues to play well with his new line mates, he will easily finish the season with 45 points, possibly even 20 goals.
Casey Mittelstadt is a versatile two-way playmaking center with some of the sickest hands in the league. This kid has so much flow and control with the puck, it’s a treat to watch him use it. He’s had some struggles producing a little bit this year, but now that he’s with some players that will compliment his play (unlike the slower moving Kyle Okposo) he is poised for a solid finish to the season. He currently has 15 points in 49 games (7G 8A) but those numbers will absolutely increase dramatically before the year finishes. He will more than likely finish with at least 15 goals and 25 assists for around 40 points. What he learns from this year will translate into further growth next season.
Evan Rodrigues has really stepped up in recent games and is currently on a four game goal streak. His game is a much more complete style than the other two. He has the speed to keep up with both of them, the hand skills to keep defenders guessing, and the shooting ability to make goalies wonder if he will shoot or pass to create some key offense. Rodrigues currently sits with 18 points in 43 games (6G, 12A) but with the way he has been playing, I don’t see why he couldn’t push the 40 point plateau. Realistically I think he will hit around 37 points (16G, 21A).
The Buffalo Sabres play again tonight against the Dallas Stars at 8:30pm EST, so it will be great to see what this line can do, and if they can keep the momentum going from last night in Columbus.