In the first four games of the second half, Kovalchuk has five points (three goals, two assists).
“Before that I got some chances but they just weren’t going in,” Kovalchuk said today. “I think overall we’ve played harder. My linemates are creating a little bit more room for me and I’ve gotten a lot of opportunities.”
His linemates are center Travis Zajac and rookie right winger Nick Palmieri.
“The last few games felt the best since we’ve been together,” Zajac noted. “I feel like we’ve had a lot more scoring chances the last few games. He’s playing well right now at both ends of the ice. That makes a big difference.
“I think we have the puck a lot more just because we’re getting out of our own end a lot quicker. And he’s able to make more plays and have the puck more.”