The TSN Hockey List: The top NHL lines of October

Craig Button

TSN Director of Scouting

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Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf share No. 1 status in the NHL scoring race and are also No. 1 on TSN.ca's first installment of weekly TSN Hockey lists.

The combination of right winger Perry (the triggerman), centre Getzlaf (the playmaker) and left winger Devante Smith-Pelly (the physical force)  ranks first on our Top 10 list. Two weeks into the season, they are the NHL's best line. Longtime linemates Perry (8-2-10) and Getzlaf (2-8-10) are mirror images in the scoring race, joining Dallas Stars centre Tyler Seguin and John Tavares of the New York Islanders atop the scoring race. DSP has played alongside Perry and Getzlaf over the last two games and proved himself a perfect complement on the Anaheim Ducks, whose 6-1 record is matched only by the Montreal Canadiens.

This list, like all others TSN.ca produces, is a living and breathing one. Just as sure as lines change, you can be sure this list will change and, as such, it will be revisited in the weeks to come. Leading a group effort in the weekly rankings is TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button. Ultimately, he's the face of the list. Direct all your feedback - good and BAD - to his twitter account @craigjbutton and use the hashtag #tsnhockeylist.

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GLOSSARY

Corsi% = Corsi Percentage (shots, missed shots & blocked shots for vs. shots, missed shots & blocked shots against)

Corsi Rel% = Relative Corsi (player's Corsi % relative to team Corsi when player not on ice)

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1. The Getzlaf Line

A line that dominates with skill and power. Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry can set it up or finish it and Devante Smith-Pelly is smart in reading off both of them and is the perfect 'wing man' for Getzlaf and Perry. They have played together just two games this season, but previously played together during the 2014 playoffs.

LW Devante Smith-Pelly 7 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PTS, 16:08 TOI, 45.3 Corsi%, -4.8 Corsi Rel%

C Ryan Getzlaf 7 GP, 2 G, 8 A, 10 PTS, 19:53 TOI, 48.9 Corsi%, +0.1 Corsi Rel%

RW Corey Perry 7 GP, 8 G, 2 A, 10 PTS, 19:16 TOI, 50.3 Corsi%, +2.1 Corsi Rel%

2. The Carter Line

Veteran centre Jeff Carter becomes increasingly dangerous down the middle because his game is not just shooting the puck, but playmaking as well. Young guns Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli on the flanks can get open and the Kings have themselves a triple threat line.

LW Tyler Toffoli  6 GP, 3 G, 4 A, 7 PTS, 13:22 TOI, 55.2 Corsi%, +10.5 Corsi Rel%

C Jeff Carter 6 GP, 3 G, 3 A, 6 PTS, 17:55 TOI, 48.4 Corsi%, +1.4 Corsi Rel%

RW Tanner Pearson 6 GP, 5 G, 2 A, 7 PTS, 12:33 TOI, 53.0 Corsi%, +7.5 Corsi Rel%

3. The Crosby Line

Chris Kunitz and Patric Hornqvist are not sidecars to Sidney Crosby. To play with No. 87, you have to be smart, skilled and competitive. Kunitz is a proven talent alongside Sid, while the size of Hornqvist - acquired over the summer from Nashville - adds a different element for Crosby.

LW Chris Kunitz 5 GP, 2 G, 3 A, 5 PTS, 17:58 TOI, 54.0 Corsi%, -0.8 Corsi Rel%

C Sidney Crosby 5 GP, 4 G, 5 A, 9 PTS, 19:17 TOI, 54.1 Corsi%, -0.5 Corsi Rel%

RW Patric Hornqvist 5 GP, 4 G, 4 A, 8 PTS, 17:45 TOI, 56.3 Corsi%, +2.7 Corsi Rel%

4. The Spezza Line

Jason Spezza - acquired over the summer from the Ottawa Senators - is reborn in Dallas. With captain Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin kicking it up to another gear, Spezza doesn't have to be the lead guy with the Dallas Stars. While the trio has been together for a short time – only two games - the possibilities are intriguing.

LW Jamie Benn 6 GP, 4 G, 4 A, 8 PTS, 19:24 TOI, 50.8 Corsi%, +5.4 Corsi Rel%

C Jason Spezza 6 GP, 1 G, 7 A, 8 PTS, 17:16 TOI, 50.0 Corsi%, +4.0 Corsi Rel%

RW Tyler Seguin 6 GP, 5 G, 5 A, 10 PTS, 19:01 TOI, 52.7 Corsi%, +7.6 Corsi Rel%

5. The Sedin Line

Henrik and Daniel Sedin are back with a new co-star in Vancouver. Radim Vrbata signed with the club in the offseason and is gifted at getting open on the ice. And the twins can certainly find those open players. The formula to playing with the Sedins is simple - get open, receive the puck and finish.

LW Daniel Sedin 5 GP, 1 G, 7 A, 8 PTS, 19:58 TOI, 60.6 Corsi%, +8.0 Corsi Rel%

C Henrik Sedin 5 GP, 2 G, 5 A, 7 PTS, 20:00 TOI, 60.2 Corsi%, +7.4 Corsi Rel%

RW Radim Vrbata 5 GP, 4 G, 2 A, 6 PTS, 18:18 TOI, 59.4 Corsi%, +6.1 Corsi Rel%

6. The Plekanec Line

Alex Galchenyuk - who played as a centre in junior - continues his progression as a productive winger in his third season with the Montreal Canadiens. The brilliant two-way play of centre Tomas Plekanec helps any player on the wing, while P-A Parenteau's smarts allows him to play off the other two.

LW Alex Galchenyuk 7 GP, 3 G, 4 A, 7 PTS, 16:33 TOI, 52.2 Corsi%, -1.6 Corsi Rel%

C Tomas Plekanec 7 GP, 4 G, 4 A, 8 PTS, 18:49 TOI, 51.3 Corsi%, -2.9 Corsi Rel%

RW P-A Parenteau 7 GP, 2 G, 3 A, 5 PTS, 15:30 TOI, 55.8 Corsi%, +3.4 Corsi Rel%

7. The Bozak Line

As this line goes, so do the Toronto Maple Leafs on any given night of the season. Phil Kessel is a proven goal scoring wizard, James van Riemsdyk packs size and finish while Bozak complements them with an understanding of how to be a solid, supporting centre.

LW James van Riemsdyk 7 GP, 3 G, 2 A, 5 PTS, 19:21 TOI, 44.5 Corsi%, -4.1 Corsi Rel%

C Tyler Bozak 7 GP, 3 G, 4 A, 7 PTS, 18:44 TOI, 45.3 Corsi%, -3.3 Corsi Rel%

RW Phil Kessel 7 GP, 4 G, 4 A, 8 PTS, 19:24 TOI, 42.9 Corsi%, -7.4 Corsi Rel%

8. The Tavares Line

Perhaps it's a two-person line with respect to productivity, but John Tavares drives the game and the play of his line with winger Kyle Okposo and new arrival Cory Conacher. You can stop others, but Tavares is becoming increasingly unstoppable as an elite NHL talent.

LW Cory Conacher 6 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PTS, 15:57 TOI, 50.0 Corsi%, -2.6 Corsi Rel%

C John Tavares 6 GP, 2 G, 6 A, 8 PTS, 20:49 TOI, 52.7 Corsi%, +1.3 Corsi Rel%

RW Kyle Okposo 6 GP, 2 G, 6 A, 8 PT, 20:32 TOI, 53.5 Corsi%, +2.6 Corsi Rel%

9. The Granlund Line

Their outcomes are not evident but their process is exceptional. With Mikael Granlund playing down the middle between veterans Zach Parise and Jason Pominville, the Wild have offensive zone domination. And it's just a matter of time before the results ensue on the scoreboard.

LW Zach Parise 4 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 4 PTS, 19:24 TOI, 64.3 Corsi%, +9.2 Corsi Rel%

C Mikael Granlund 4 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 2 PTS, 18:53 TOI, 61.2 Corsi%, +4.6 Corsi Rel%

RW Jason Pominville 4 GP, 1 G, 1 A,    2 PTS, 18:10 TOI, 62.9 Corsi%, +7.1 Corsi Rel%

10. The Hayes Line

Rick Nash has been a dominant force for the New York Rangers in this early part of the regular season. On his wing, there is fast and then there's Chris Kreider - who opens up so much on the ice with his speed. The unique situation of rookie Kevin Hayes landing with the Rangers this season has been a nice fit.

LW Chris Kreider 7 GP, 2 G, 4 A, 6 PTS, 14:41 TOI, 53.7 Corsi%, -0.3 Corsi Rel%

C Kevin Hayes 5 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 PTS, 13:10 TOI, 52.1 Corsi%, -4.7% Corsi Rel%

RW Rick Nash 7 GP, 8 G, 1 A, 9 PTS, 16:04 TOI, 46.0 Corsi%, -10.2 Corsi Rel%