Going to have to go to the video for a longer look at his puck touches, but I suspect he's not hitting that first pass as cleanly and as often as before.
The Matthews line is largely insulated from this breakdown in breakouts because Matthews is a Selke-worthy C that digs pucks out and has two of our speediest wings to take the puck up and out. Similar with Blueger's line.
Nylander used to be able to solo that for Tavares, but since his illness looks like he has both lower back pain and plantar fasciitis and the lung capacity of a cigar afficionado. Trying to use his linemates to transport is basically an auto-Tavares turnover at the opposing blueline 1v3. I can see him clearly saving gas for offense, puck watching and waiting instead of puck getting.
