JJ Peterka is one of the many young and talented players on the Buffalo Sabres. After an impressive rookie season, he was looking to have a better sophomore year. Peterka started the year off very well as he reached the 20-goal mark. After a while, he cooled down. He would get a point here and there but there was a stretch where he wasn't producing.
He wasn't playing badly, it's just that JJ couldn't score or get points consistently. That was until head coach Don Granato put JJ on the first line with Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch. Ever since Peterka was placed on the first line, he has been very hot as of late.
In the last five games, JJ has six points with five goals and one assist. Three of those six points came in last night's victory over the Washington Capitals as he scored two goals and registered one assist. During the last 11 games, Peterka has three games in which he didn't register any points.
Even though fans like myself loved him on a line with Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn, there's no denying that the German forward is making the most of playing on the Sabres top line. Peterka with Thompson and Tuch is paying dividends as that line is full of skill and speed.
Borrowing an injury, I think it's safe to say that we will see JJ on the first line for the rest of the season. His chemistry with Tage and Alex is paying off and as a result, he is scoring and producing consistently. In 76 games played, Peterka has 28 goals and 21 assists.
It's possible he could reach 30 goals with six games left in the season. He scored 12 goals in his rookie season, so he is progressing well in his young career. Peterka and the Sabres will be back in action on Friday night as they will host the Philadelphia Flyers.