from Katie Strang of ESPN,

It was one brief shift in the second period of Game 4, but noteworthy nonetheless, when Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos skated with Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat.

We have become so accustomed to seeing Tampa Bay’s vaunted "Triplets" line -- Palat, Johnson and Nikita Kucherov -- that it’s odd when someone else makes an appearance on that line, even if only for a brief cameo.

That’s because the three players, similar in both size and stature, have combined to form one of the most explosive, dynamic lines in hockey. Johnson, the catalyst of the trio, leads the league with 13 playoff goals (and 23 points even though he has been held to two points in the Cup finals). Kucherov is not far behind, second in both categories with 10 goals and 22 points. Palat has eight goals and 16 points.

The chemistry among them is so fine-tuned that they know each other’s tendencies and can anticipate each movement. They all speak different native languages -- Johnson hails from Spokane, Washington, Palat from Feydek-Mistek, Czech Republic, and Kucherov from Moscow, Russia -- but are bound by the puck that toggles between their sticks.

That is, indeed, the genesis of the nickname.

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