Challenge – Find A Better Fourth Line

Just a few short days ago, in my Flames season opening article, I was raving and proclaiming the Flames quite possibly have the best fourth line in hockey, which Coach Brent Sutter plans to deploy effectively this season.

Seemingly hearing my glorious praises, Nystrom, Sjostrom and Prust (can we call him Prustrom?), the energy line put on a clinic as I watched them frustrate the Canadiens live at the Saddledome last night.

I previously tried to sum up the line’s attributes:

“Energy? Check.

Speed? Check.

Toughness? Check.

Pace-changing? Check.

Tenacious forechecking? Check.

Ability to chip in offensively? Check.”

The last statement failed to describe them accurately on this night as Nystrom, at first glance, had a hat trick. After the game, however, he immediately went to the scorekeeper stating he never touched Kronwall’s point shot – giving the big Swedish defenseman his first ever NHL goal. Nystrom was an assist shy of a Gordie Howe hat trick, after having a spirited tilt with Kyle Chipchura.

Can Flames faithful expect such production night in, night out? Rest assured, this will not be the case. But for a team that has been often in recent years, a “one-trick pony”, the ability to have contributions from any lines taking the ice is a major bonus and load off the shoulders of Captain Iginla.

Brandon Prust was not to be outdone in the donnybrooks department with a heated scrap of his own. Pound-for-pound, this sparkplug is one of the best fighters in the league and fears no one. Aside from his fists, his skating and work ethic are most desirable for the role he plays.

Fredrik Sjostrom, by season’s end, might be called the best player on this line. Speed to burn, great shot-blocker, and playing well within the system, I find it hard to fathom how the Rangers let him go in the offseason.

While not exactly a member of the energy line, Adam Pardy played a damn fine game last night and deserves mention. His hit on Max Pacioretti was the highlight of the night:

Back to the title of this post:  I hereby challenge hockey fans and writers alike to name a better current fourth/energy/plumber line than the “Prust-trom Line”. Realizing a lot of coaches utilize the fourth line differently, feel free to use a team’s depth chart to project a comparable fourth line.

Trouble is, the way the Flames energy line is clicking, they’re going to make it extremely tough to keep calling them a fourth line. Last night, they were indeed the first line for the club.

Feel free to contact me via email: hockeyspy@gmail.com or

Twitter: Hockey Spy

Christopher Ralph, aka "The Hockey Spy", is a freelance hockey writer from Calgary via Newfoundland. His own blog at The Hockey Spy covers hockey in general with a focus on prospects and the NHL Entry Draft. He also covers the Chicago Blackhawks Paint It Blackhawks. Click here for more of his THW articles, focusing on the Calgary Flames, prospects and the draft. "A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be." - Wayne Gretzky

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