The Blue Jackets have a healthy forward group and a position secured in the NHL playoffs. That affords head coach John Tortorella the unique opportunity to work with his line combinations in the 11 remaining games to find the best lineup possible going into the post-season.
"We've been a top six and then a six where I'm not sure which was the third and fourth line as you've gone through each night," Tortorella said. "I don't know what the best lineup going into the playoffs is right now and that's a good thing. I think with additions and improved play of a number of people it allows me to see what the best lineup is without overthinking it."
While the forward lines have been tweaked here and there throughout the year, the team showed its most significant changes to date in this weekend's back-to-back games against the Islanders and New Jersey Devils.
Alex Wennberg centered a line with Nick Foligno and Oliver Bjorkstrand on the wings. Sam Gagner played between Brandon Saad and Cam Atkinson. And Brandon Dubinsky and Boone Jenner saw Josh Anderson join their line, with William Karlsson playing with Matt Calvert and Scott Hartnell.
Wennberg was held out of Sunday's game as a precaution and that moved the lines around a bit more.
Practice Notebook: March 21
Jackets get ready for critical Metropolitan back-to-back