Great NHL teams are led by a dominate top line. Some nights you can lean on goaltending or depth to win games but sooner or later, you need your top line to dominate. The Columbus Blue Jackets top line of Artemi Panarin, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Cam Atkinson carried this team to a big 5-4 overtime victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. They are a truly great line. Just not elite. Yet.
Coach John Tortorella has put every line in a blender this season, except for the top unit. And watching the game last night, it’s obvious why.