After Game 3’s loss, the Abbotsford Canucks still hold a 2-1 series lead in the Western Conference Finals after sweeping the first two games at home.

With Texas now showing signs of life in this series, the Canucks have a chance to push them to the brink of elimination with a win on Wednesday night in Game 4.

If they’re going to do so, they’re going to need to rely on their top line of Arshdeep Bains, Ty Mueller and Linus Karlsson, as these three are doing all of the heavy lifting in the offensive zone.

Since Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra put this trio together for Game 5 against the Colorado Eagles, they have 17 points together (Karlsson seven, Bains six, Mueller four).

And if we’re just to focus on this series against the Texas Stars, this trio has 11 of the 13 points by Canucks forwards. There has been just one of the six goals where none of this trio contributed on. Including Karlsson and Mueller connecting on this beautiful play to take the lead in Game 1:

“I think the biggest thing is the mindset that they have,” Malhotra said regarding this trio following Game 2. “They play a very simple and direct game, and that’s what’s giving them success. When they get pucks in and they play that simple style, then the skill comes out, and they’re able to make plays. But more so, I’m impressed with how heavy and hard they are on pucks. I put them out in key situations knowing that they’re gonna get the job done.”

It’s truly an all-situations type of trust Malhotra has in his top line this series.

After the Stars ice the puck in the third period of Game 2, Malhotra sent the trio back out onto the ice for the offensive zone faceoff. Mueller wins the draw, and after some passing, Karlsson finds Akito Hirose for the game-winning goal.

And later in the period when the Stars pulled their goalie, Malhotra again turned to Bains, Mueller and Karlsson to go out and ice the game. They did just that, only solidifying the trust their coach has in them. Earning more trust with the coach leads to more ice time for the three to continue to develop their chemistry.

“Yeah, I think we just do a good job of knowing where we are,” Bains said about his line [We’re] hard on forechecks, coming back and reloading. It’s just hard to play against. We keep it simple, and then at times we can get creative. So it’s been a lot of fun, and hopefully, keep it going.”

While Bains has found the scoresheet 11 times this postseason, he has yet to light the lamp through 15 games. However, Bains likely doesn’t care as long as somebody is putting them in the net for the Canucks.

The Abbotsford Canucks are going to need them to continue to roll this series as they are not getting any secondary scoring from the rest of the forward groups. Max Sasson, Sammy Blais, Phil Di Giuseppe and Jonathan Lekkerimäki are all pointless in this series. If they can get some secondary scoring with how this top line is gelling right now, they could be in for a big bounceback for Game 4.

Puck drops for Game 4 tonight at 5 PM PST. Following the game, you can find Irfaan Gaffar and I on Rink Wide!