The St. Louis Blues have had inconsistencies throughout their team during the entire season, but one thing that has stayed consistent is the fourth line.
The St. Louis Blues are teetering between awful, mediocre, and a team that could maybe, just maybe, make a run and get back into the playoff race. One thing that is not to blame is the play of the fourth line.
However, the fourth line has not always had this level of play during the season. Early on, the Blues juggled a handful of players that rotated in and out of the lineup and were forced to pair players who did not play well together.
The season started with Robert Thomas, Sammy Blais, and Jordan Kyrou on the fourth line and they played fine, but were inexperienced and lacked the spark that the Blues now have in the current line.
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The “kid” line has blossomed to become a line featuring Ivan Barbashev, Oskar Sundvqist, and Jordan Nolan and is now the Blues most consistent line.
Nolan is dead last on the Blues in ice time, averaging just over six minutes per game, but brings a level of physicality and toughness to the Blues that does not, and should not go unnoticed.
Sundqvist is having a breakout season, by his standards at least. So far this season the Swede has connected for five goals and three assists, and his five goals is a career high.
Sundqvist sees more time on the ice than Nolan because of his ability to play on the penalty kill. Averaging 11:14 TOI, Sundvqist has also been on the Blues top two penalty kill lines and has been an integral part in the Blues success while a man down.
Barbashev has been one of my favorite players to watch all season. He brings a unique blend of speed, skill, and physicality that compliments the fourth line perfectly.
He leads all fourth liners in ice time with 11:19 and like Sundqvist, the uptick in playing time is a result of his play on the penalty kill. Often paired together, Sundqvist and Barbashev could be the most lethal teammates on the kill in the league and are a big reason why the Blues rank sixth in the league on the PK.
The crew at Fox Sports Midwest has said it time and time again, “You’re fourth line needs to have an identity,” and they are absolutely right. Right now, the Blues fourth line is their most consistent line, and the trio is finding ways to shut down the opposing teams.