Change is good.

Al Murdoch, coach of the Cyclone Hockey team, recognized that his team needed a change and it came not a moment too soon.

Heading into their second game against Lindenwood, the Cyclones were riding a four-game losing streak while looking for a way to turn it around.

Murdoch decided to make a change, moving sophomore forward James Buttermore from right wing to center and substituting freshman forward Georgi Iskrenov for junior forward Chris Cucullu.

The results were nearly instant. The redesigned line consisting of Buttermore, Iskrenov and sophomore forward J.P. Kascsak scored on its first shift against Lindenwood.

“[Buttermore] has adjusted well. He’s a natural centerman, a good skater and good at faceoffs,” Murdoch said of his sophomore forward.

While the team eventually lost the game 3-2, it returned to the ice the following week to sweep West Virginia and put a halt on the losing streak.

Buttermore, who is second in team goal-scoring and on a three-game streak, shared what it takes to reach this level of play.

“It’s just the hard work in practice,” Buttermore said. “If you can put the puck away in practice, it’s going to seem a lot easier in a game. If you struggle in practice, it’s going to be hard to carry over into a game.”

In addition to noting that the line’s primary role is offensive production, Kascsak said he is excited due to the chemistry within the line.

“We just know where each other are,” Kascsak said of his linemates. “We’re not trying to do anything too crazy.”

Murdoch also expressed his excitement, as well as his high expectations, for this newly renovated line.

“I want that line — Buttermore, Kascsak and Iskrenov — to have a plus-three, plus-four every game,” Murdoch said. “That means score three, four, five goals a game.”

Kascsak and Buttermore were linemates last season and have carried their chemistry to this season. In addition to Buttermore and Kascsak’s noted chemistry, Buttermore is back in his natural position of center, which he played for the entirety of last season.

“I’m liking that a lot more,” Buttermore said. “We’re starting to click, and everyone’s starting to come together.”

Heading over the hump of the midway point in the season, Iowa State is hoping to finish the season strong, create the strongest lines and give itself the best opportunity to advance in the tournament.

The new line of Buttermore, Kascsak and Iskrenov looks promising in doing just that.

“We’ve had some guys in and out of our line, but we’ve always been together,” Buttermore said of Kascsak and himself. “No matter who we’re with, me and him always do a pretty good job of finding each other and knowing where each other are.”