Dickinson stated that the pairing works well together due to their similar playing styles by using their speed and also trusts that they will cover each other during defensive situations.
"It feels good again," Dickinson said. "We're using our speed well and reading off each other well and creating opportunities. I felt we had a lot of chances last game, but obliviously didn't capitalize."
Head coach Luke Richardson described the line's ability to pick up rebounds better and create more offensive zone time by the way they move. As they continue to skate and move with the puck, they can look for better offensive chances.
Before practice on Wednesday, the coaching staff showed clips from the team's 3-0 loss to Carolina. The one line they felt performed well and showed the most was of Dickinson, Lafferty and Athanasiou. Despite not finding the back of the net, they still were able to create different shooting looks and stay with the puck.
"We showed some clips of Dickinson's line and we said they were there's a theme here today all of the good offensive zone clips were them," Richardson said. "Because they're moving their feet, they keep reloading above them and they're really in good position."
One of the qualities that Lafferty points to in Dickinson's style that works well is his ability to win battles and bring his puck support. These little things are what help create offensive chances and also defend well.
"He always supports the puck in the middle of the ice and he wins his puck battles," Lafferty said. "He forechecks hard, he finishes all his hits and does all the little things it takes to generate offense and be good defensively too."
With Athanasiou in the mix, Lafferty adds the ease that he brings to the line to add the finishing touches. He also knows that he can trust that his new linemate will be ready for the puck at any moment.
Once he has the puck, Dickinson noted the way he can create more rushing chances to try and spark those scoring moments. With the line working more consistently, he knows the goals will start to come again soon.
"He kind of bought into what me and [Lafferty] like to do," Dickinson said. "He's playing with his speed, which is obliviously high end. It works well with us so [Lafferty] and I can keep up and try to utilize that to the outside to create more on rush chances. We're going to break through eventually here and if we can stick to what we're going, it will work out for us."
