{"id":97844,"date":"2011-11-06T21:51:38","date_gmt":"2011-11-07T03:51:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uscho.com\/hockey-east-blog\/?p=508"},"modified":"2011-11-06T21:51:38","modified_gmt":"2011-11-07T03:51:38","slug":"top-lines-top-to-bottom-and-heading-to-the-top","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uscho.com\/2011\/11\/06\/top-lines-top-to-bottom-and-heading-to-the-top\/","title":{"rendered":"Top lines, top-to-bottom, and heading to the top"},"content":{"rendered":"

These are three things I think I learned from this weekend’s games.<\/p>\n

Three: Boston College’s top line is as good as its stats.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I wasn’t sure until I saw Chris Kreider, Bill Arnold, and Kevin Hayes in action on Friday. Krieder leads Hockey East in scoring (8-7–15), followed by Arnold (7-7–14) and then in fifth place, Hayes (3-8-11). But my brain was still locked on Cam Atkinson, Brian Gibbons, and Joe Whitney when I thought of dominant Eagles’ forwards. Last year, Kreider, Arnold, and Hayes were second bananas.<\/p>\n

Not anymore.<\/p>\n

Krieder, Arnold, and Hayes each scored a goal on Friday against Maine to seize a 3-0 lead before the second period was even a minute old. And they did it every possible way: Kreider with a shorthanded goal, Arnold on the power play, and Hayes at even strength.<\/p>\n

This is a top line to rank with any other in the country.<\/p>\n

Two: Hockey East’s reputation as having the best top-to-bottom strength appears to be back in full force again.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Look at what happened on Saturday night.<\/p>\n