ST. LOUIS — It seems like every night the Blues have a new hero that steps to the plate and puts the team on his back.
Jaden Schwartz and Jordan Binnington have undoubtedly been the two biggest stars of the Blues' playoff run so far, but the third line of Tyler Bozak, Robert Thomas and Pat Maroon has felt like the most active and impressive unit of not only the postseason, but the last half of the regular season as well.
Coming into game three of the Western Conference Final, the third line has 18 points in 15 games.
Now that's not "set the world on fire" good, but the real impact of that line comes in their +/-.
Bozak, Maroon and Thomas have a combined +/- of +13. So in simple terms, good things happen when the trio is on the ice.
Jaden Schwartz is the only player on the team with a higher +/- than any member of the third line.
More than anything, when just simply watching the team play, the third line has seemed like the tightest and most cohesive unit for the Blues.
Coach Craig Berube knows there's something special about that third line.
"They just work really well together," Berube said. "Bozak and Maroon have done a great job of bringing Thomas along as a young player and giving him confidence and working with him. They've done a real good job of that."
Speaking of Robert Thomas, the teenager has been maybe the most impressive and consistent player for the team in the playoffs.
Thomas has a goal and four assists so far this postseason, which doesn't sound like much offensive production, but he seems to do something on the ice each game that makes you go, "wow".
The third line has a little bit of everything. The playmaking ability of Bozak coupled with the strength of Maroon and the speed of Thomas makes for a dangerous