Packard remains modest about the line’s success.

“We’ve been complimenting each other pretty well,” he admitted. “Obviously, you can see it from the way [Bernakevitch] has been playing that he’s elevated his game to another level since the playoffs have come up.”

“Maki and I are kind of feeding off of his energy, and I think it’s working out pretty well for us right now.”

Packard’s consistent ability as a two-way player is reflected in his plus-18 rating over the course of this season, and his playoff plus-five serves as further proof. Once again, though, Packard deferred to the importance of chemistry, saying that “the plus/minus is more a reflection of how the line is playing as a whole.

“The way [Bernakevitch] and Maki have been playing offensively, especially in the playoffs, I’ve benefited a lot form having those two on the line,” he said. “Both of them have been scoring some big goals.”

PACK ATTACK

Packard is, by all accounts, a nice person. So nice, in fact, that Reilly would deem the skater good enough for his daughter—if he had a daughter, that is.

“To me,” Reilly explained, “that’s the ultimate compliment I can give a player. I just think he’s a great person.”

But Packard has had to learn how to use his 6’5 frame aggressively, something which has not always come so easily.

“We’ve encouraged him over the years to use his size and strength,” Mazzoleni said. “[Now] he plays a more determined, physical-type game. He uses his size and strength below the goal line well.”

Indeed, Packard has scored 10 goals thus far—his only year of four in which he has broken double-digits—and recorded 11 assists, which matches his career high.

“Dennis is a very effective player,” Mazzoleni said. “He’s got real good hands, he sees the ice well, he can make plays with the puck, and he’s developed his play into a power forward role.”

Reilly agreed, but he added that if Packard hoped for success at the next level—the senior is a seventh-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning—he must continue to intensify his play.

“I’d like to see him be a bit more tenacious shift-to-shift,” Reilly said, “because that’s what he’s going to have to do at that next level.

“He’s going to have to play [6’5] every shift,” he explained. “Guys will be coming after him every shift because of his size.”

And perhaps Packard’s greatest weakness is also his greatest strength.

“Sometimes,” said Reilly, “he’s just too nice.

“He’s got to be Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde on the ice. He’s got to learn that when he steps on that ice, it’s OK to be Mr. Hyde, because he’s the Dr. when he gets off.”