ANALYSIS: Winnipeg Jets’ dominant 3rd line unique in NHL

Imagine getting a 2nd accidental to fulfil your imagination of coaching successful the National Hockey League, lasting down the bench, and being capable to look down and spot 17, 62, 22.

No, those aren’t lottery numbers (although, I mightiness conscionable effort them). That’s Adam Lowry, Nino Niederreiter and Mason Appleton. A enactment similar nary different successful the NHL. A enactment that conscionable mightiness beryllium the astir implicit successful the league. Seven much points for the trio connected Wednesday, successful summation to mounting the implicit code of the crippled for the Winnipeg Jets’ full domination successful Edmonton.

You know, there’s been a ton of speech connected this vigor presumption astir the Jets’ 3rd enactment — a moniker I person taken contented with. Lowry, Niederreiter and Appleton are arsenic overmuch a 3rd enactment arsenic I americium the Bombers’ starting quarterback.

“Third line” indicates that determination are 2 lines amended connected this club.  And that conscionable isn’t the case.

There was a clip and spot successful hockey wherever large lines had large nicknames — the Goal-a-Game Line, the Scooter Line, the West Coast Express, the Grind Line.

Adam Lowry, Nino Niedereitter and Mason Appleton merit to beryllium acknowledged arsenic the astir implicit enactment successful the game. They are “the 200-Foot Line.”

They tin score, they tin hit, they tin check. They tin beryllium enactment connected the crystal successful immoderate concern and thrive.  There is nary radical successful the NHL similar them.

And springiness Kevin Cheveldayoff immoderate credit. It has been connected the wide manager’s ticker that Adam Lowry has grown into a monster of a player, and a captain, positive trading for Niederreiter astatine the deadline successful 2023 and reacquiring Appleton, aft losing him to the Seattle Kraken successful the enlargement draft.

Make nary mistake, manager Scott Arniel is already the envy of the National Hockey League, conscionable due to the fact that helium tin telephone connected the 3rd line, oregon rather, the 200-Foot Line, immoderate clip helium sees fit.