Merlot Line Looks to Improve Quickly

The B’s at their best roll four lines, spread the ice time and try to keep relentless pressure on opponents. And having a trustworthy and productive fourth line is a key to that approach.

“We take pride in it,” Thornton said. “We want to be able to contribute, we want to be able to play. With us, if we’re not going (playing well), we’re probably not going to get the minutes.

“The first game (of this season), we’d only played one game in the preseason — it’s not an excuse — but I think we were still trying to get our timing back. The last game I thought we felt a lot better.