Advanced statistics and quantitative analysis have consistently proven useful in hockey, but any honest hockey math nerd will admit that there are factors the numbers can’t quite measure. Some things operate on the U.S. Supreme Court's "I know it when I see it" principle. Supposedly, one such unmeasurable factor is chemistry, which has been a major talking point among Canuck nation of late.
During the regular season, David Booth played roughly 35 total even-strength minutes with the Sedin twins. He played more with former Florida Panthers teammate Tomas Kopecky. Yet, with the team facing elimination in Game 4 of the Canucks' first round series with the Los Angeles Kings, Alain Vigneault modified his lines, bumping Booth up to the top line to skate with the twins. That alteration to the team's forward lines separated Booth from Ryan Kesler, his linemate all season.
Despite being somewhat bemused by Booth's move to the Sedins' right wing, many cheered the split from Kesler, as the two apparently have "no chemistry.” Oh, but they do.
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