Preds hope Legwand lights fire under Radulov - Nashville, Tennessee - Wednesday, 02/21/07 - Tennessean.com
Call it the Peter Forsberg trickle-down effect.
The acquisition of the Swedish superstar bumped David Legwand from first to third-line center, where he's brought a healthy dose of speed and creativity to his new linemates.
Third-line left wing Scott Hartnell took full advantage of the new setup in Monday's 4-1 win over Phoenix, snapping a nine-game goal drought by scoring twice against the Coyotes. One of those goals came on a Legwand assist.
The question now: Will third-line right wing Alexander Radulov be the next to benefit from Legwand?
The Russian rookie was all the rage the first few weeks of the season, when he lit the lamp 10 times in his first 18 games.
But Radulov has just one goal in his last 24 games and he'll take a 15-game goalless streak into Thursday's duel with the Montreal Canadiens at Gaylord Entertainment Center.
"He needs to get going here. He's got to have a little more game,'' Predators Coach Barry Trotz said of Radulov, whose last goal came on New Year's Day.