Patrick Maroon doesn't know how long he will be on the Anaheim Ducks' top scoring line, so he's making the most of the opportunity.
Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau is known for constantly shuffling his line combinations and Maroon - who had 34 points in 71 games during the regular season - ended up alongside Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry to start the playoffs. Maroon is still on the line after posting four points in five postseason games.
"I think it's Bruce just giving me the opportunity, and I've just got to keep playing the way I'm playing because one bad game can lead me out of the lineup," Maroon told Curtis Zupke of NHL.com. "So for me, I've got to stay focused and keep playing that rugged hockey, grind it down low kind of hockey, get in front of the net, frustrate their defense."
Getzlaf and Perry are big enough to handle their own physical battles, but playing with someone like Maroon creates space for their elite offensive talent - Getzlaf has eight points in the postseason, while Perry leads the team with 11.
Maroon honed his rugged playing style during an extensive stint in the AHL before he became an NHL regular. He appeared in 353 AHL games over six seasons, recording 118 goals and 278 points. While that offensive consistency has yet to translate to the NHL level, Maroon's work ethic and strength is what impresses Boudreau the most.
"When you've only been in this league for a little over two years, the consistency sometimes isn't there," Boudreau said. "That's the only thing that's plagued him through the course of the year. When he's on top of his game, he's a big force for us, but he's back on that line because he's been consistent of late and he's been playing the same way. There's no letdown in his game."
Despite his recent statistical bump, Maroon hasn't lost sight of his role on a line with two Olympic gold medalists. He knows he's there to finish checks and create havoc in front of the opposition's net - any points he records as a result are a bonus.
"I just go to work," he said.
