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| Trevor Lewis (photo: D. Sheehan) |
Trevor Lewis has played in all 15 games since coach Darryl Sutter took over on December 22 against the Ducks. That’s a bit of contrast from the 15 games prior, where then-coach Terry Murray only put him in the line-up for six and scratched him for the other nine games.
The former first round draft pick has been playing primarily with Brad Richardson and Andrei Loktionov, and after practice yesterday Sutter said it was Lewis who was ‘carrying the line’ of late. Rather high praise for a guy who’s only scored one goal this season.
Yet, it’s more than just his offensive production that Sutter is looking at to evaluate Lewis’ all around game. One recent positive was his career-high six hits vs the Flames on Thursday.
“I was trying to get in on the forecheck,” said Lewis. “I think that’s kind of the key to our line – to turn pucks over and grind ’em down low. I was first most of the time (on Thursday), so I had more hits.”
On any improvement in his overall game over the last five games or so, Lewis was quick to point to his teammates.
“I think it’s a credit to my line. We’re playing well. As you play well, I think your confidence goes a little higher and you start to carry the puck a little bit more and make more plays. I just need to keep going and hopefully our line can find the back of the net pretty soon.”
Does part of that confidence come from playing with the same two guys on a regular basis?
“Definitely. You’re playing with them all the time and in practice. I think we’ve been together for…well, I don’t even know how many games now. But, it’s nice to know where they’re going to be and what their tendencies are.”
Sutter may have summed it up best though. After praising the line for ‘doing a lot of good things and working hard,’ he cut right to the chase – “Our third line has got to start scoring some goals for us. You do the math. How many goals does the third line have?”
Well, in the six games they’ve been together, that would be one.
The Mayor
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