Kornacki: CCM Line Continues to Roll
1/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Jan. 29, 2016
CCM Line
By Steve Kornacki
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- When they're on the ice, you're on the edge of your seat.
Michigan's top line of center JT Compher, left wing Kyle Connor and right wing Tyler Motte is a goal waiting to happen. Penn State can attest to that after the Wolverines' 7-4 victory Thursday night (Jan. 28) at the Pegula Ice Arena.
Connor and Motte both scored a pair of goals, and Compher notched one. Their devastating line alone outscored the Nittany Lions, who came into the game tied for second place in the Big Ten with No. 6 Michigan.
Motte and Connor both have 20 goals after only 22 games, and the last Michigan player to reach that plateau faster was Kevin Porter, who got 20 in 21 games and went on to win the Hobey Baker Award for a Frozen Four team in 2007-08.
Connor leads the NCAA with 40 points and shares the national goal-scoring lead with Motte. Compher, who is second in the nation with 26 assists, is fifth with 34 points. Motte is sixth with 33 points. Their line ranks 1-2-3 in Big Ten scoring.
All three are Hobey Baker nominees and NHL draft picks -- Connor in the first round to Winnipeg, Compher in the second round to Buffalo before having his rights traded to Colorado last summer, and Motte in the fourth round to Chicago, the defending Stanley Cup champion.
Michigan head coach Red Berenson put the trio together Dec. 4 against Wisconsin, and they've been unbelievable ever since. They've combined to score 35 goals in 11 games. That's a whole lot of biscuits in the baskets in very little baking time.
What did Berenson see that led him to take Connor, who has an electric stick and great speed, off the second line and pair him with Compher and Motte?
Berenson said, "We started off Kyle Connor with Boo Nieves and Justin Selman, our two senior forwards, and we were hoping we'd get a real chemistry. And I wasn't sure that was happening. They were all playing okay, but there was nothing special.
"And, plus, Kyle Connor is a left winger. He's not a right winger. So, we took him off right wing and put him on left wing with our two hardest-working players, JT and Tyler. And you could see, right away they connected. You never know as a coach, but you're looking for something like that. It doesn't come along very often."
Berenson has preached the need for defensive improvement to this team, and this line says it's thrived because they spark rushes and possessions with defense.
"The first time we were put together, we just focused on working hard and didn't worry about scoring," said Connor. "We worry about playing defense first, and that translates to the offensive game."
Motte, seated next to Connor at a press conference, nodded his head as Connor spoke.
"Just to his point," said Motte, "we're not worrying about putting up points. We find a way to win, and (points are) not really our focus point. Coach stresses the D-zone, and that's where we're focused. A lot of our offensive opportunities come from that."
Compher was doing his postgame stretching in the hallway outside the locker room while his line mates were interviewed by the media.
"Nobody's worrying about points," Compher said. "We're just trying to play the right way and play good defensively. If we're continuing to play hard and play the right way, it's going to be good things for our line.
"We've got a mix of everything. And as a center man, it's always nice to have two guys who can put away the opportunities. And they've been able to do that all year, and help me look good. I think that Tyler brings grit similar to me, and Kyle has great skill. Tyler's goal scoring is going off the charts since his first two years, and that's really nice to see."
Motte had 18 goals in his first two seasons combined, getting nine both years. But now he's swooping in and putting shots past goalies with dekes and speed.
My favorite goal by the line against Penn State was Connor's first of the game, which gave Michigan the lead for good, 3-2, early in the second period.
Motte dove for the puck near the boards at center ice and tipped it ahead to Connor in a fabulous display of timing and courage. That unconventional pass enabled Connor to break in alone. He faked goalie Matthew Skoff before beating him to the stick side.
"It was a great effort," said Connor. "The defenseman went over (Motte) and pinched on him, and he just dove and tipped it to space. I was all alone, and the goalie made a move, and it went in."
Berenson said, "These are all second-effort plays. They're not just easy plays. They are having to extend yourself and you're having to pay a price or take a risk. That's one reason that line is successful. They are willing to do that, and they are willing to do it to help each other. It's not just for them to score but to help their linemate score.
"And it's just game after game, and they keep doing it. JT is a second-effort player. Tyler Motte is a second-effort player. And Kyle Connor is learning from these other two but also showing that he can put the puck in the net and make plays, too. So, he's growing along with the line."
Compher's goal also was a joy to watch. Motte started the rush by tipping the puck to Connor, who took it behind the net before back-handing a pass to Compher, who whacked a back-handed shot past Skoff.
"It all started with Tyler making a really good play on the wall and taking the hit and making the play," said Compher. "K.C. used his speed, and we were able to get to the net, and he made a good pass. I didn't know it went in at first."
Skoff was substituted for by Chris Funkey after Motte's second goal in the third period. Skoff had to be a bit shell-shocked, and Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky can only hope that he rebounds for Saturday's (Jan. 30) rematch in New York's Madison Square Garden as part of a doubleheader that features the Wolverines and Nittany Lions tipping off in basketball at noon before the hockey game at 7 p.m.
This one was a five-goal game for a trio that is a foregone conclusion to score.
Porter ended up with 33 goals in 43 games for a team that thrilled Michigan fans all the way to the national semifinal game. Where will Connor, Compher and Motte take these Wolverines?
The only thing for sure is that you'll watch them from the edge of your seat.
