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GLENDALE, Ariz. — A reporter noted to Coyotes center Martin Hanzal that he was tied for the NHL lead in assists with Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson, heading into Saturday’s game against the Boston Bruins at Gila River Arena.

“Yeah, seven points with zero goals,” Hanzal said, sounding unimpressed. “It’s great, but it’s only four games into the season. It’s way too early for saying something like that.”

Hanzal didn’t keep up the pace against the Bruins. He didn’t record a point in the Coyotes’ 5-3 loss at Gila River Arena, but he sure has caught lightning in a bottle with linemates Tobias Rieder and Anthony Duclair to open the season. The trio has combined for seven goals and 18 points in five games, leading Hanzal to joke that all he has to do is give his wings the puck and they will score.

“I never played with Toby or Duke in training camp and we played the first game and it just clicked,” Hanzal said. “Hopefully, we can bring it every night. I think that’s the biggest difference between good players and great players. Great players can bring it every night and all season long.”

Hanzal may be feeding off the energy, speed and skill that Duclair and Rieder bring, but the relationship is a two-way street.

“He really is a stabilizing factor for those kids, too,” coach Dave Tippett said. “Watch how he plays in his own end; how he plays in the middle of the ice. He allows those players to be a little more freelance.”

Aside from showing him the NHL ropes, Duclair says Hanzal has simply made his job easier on the ice.

“He’s just a big body who makes space for me and Rieds,” Duclair said. “We like to use our speed outside and he takes care of everything in the middle.”

That’s a more complex job than it sounds. While Hanzal said his job is simply to get the puck out of the zone as quickly as possible, he has defensive responsibilities down low that are critical to the team’s transition game. Once in the offensive zone, he has the size to go and get the puck and then he gets to the net to create traffic with his 6-foot-6 frame.

Hanzal always believed he could have this kind of impact, but back issues the past few years slowed him down. He had back surgery in mid-February to repair the same herniated disc on which he had an operation in July of 2008.

The 2008 surgery was supposed to alleviate the problem but Hanzal said he experienced pain off and on over the past few seasons and it steadily “got worse.” He started feeling greater pain and numbness around Christmas, 2014. He said it was “the exact same thing” he experienced in 2008.

To ward off another problem, Hanzal arrives 45 minutes before every practice to do stretching and strengthen his core. After practice, he stays another 30 minutes for more exercises.

“I have to stay on top of it,” he said. “I have to do it every day because I don’t want to end up having surgery in February or January or ever again.”

Tippett, captain Shane Doan and a litany of other players have always noted how critical Hanzal is to the success of the team because he touches so many areas of the game. So far, Hanzal has had the Midas touch.

“(When) you miss a half a year — especially the way our season ended without him last year — he’s taken some leadership and wants to be part of the solution,” Tippett said. “He’s a little bit leaner and moving really well.

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