Fantasy picks, props with EDGE stats for today
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SUN. NOV. 24
Player to watch for point: Dylan Guenther, F, UTA (at TOR)
The Utah Hockey Club forward is coming off a three-point game (two goals, one assist) with two power play points in a 6-1 win at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. The wing has had an impressive 33 goals and 67 points in his first 98 career NHL games, including 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) in 20 games this season; he leads Utah in goals and power-play points (seven) this season. The No. 9 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft has 11 points in his past 12 games and 12 points (eight goals, four assists) in 12 road games this season. Per NHL EDGE stats, Guenther is among the leaders in top skating speed (23.11 miles per hour; 95th percentile). -- Chris Meaney
Player to watch for shots on goal: Bobby McMann, F, TOR (vs. UTA)
The Toronto Maple Leafs wing has taken advantage of extra ice time as they deal with multiple forward injuries (Auston Matthews, Max Pacioretty, Max Domi); he averaged 13:25 through his first 10 games in October but has averaged more than 17 minutes over his past three games with three goals in the span. McMann has played at least 15 minutes in four straight games and has 20 shots on goal over that span (at least three in each game). He's skating on the top line with center John Tavares and wing Mitch Marner, and Utah will be on short rest after playing Saturday. Utah is tied for the 11th-most shots on goal per game (29.2). Per NHL EDGE stats, McMann ranks in the 96th percentile in 20-plus mph speed bursts (68) and is among the leaders in high-danger shots (18; 88th percentile) and high-danger goals (five; 90th percentile). -- Chris Meaney
MON. NOV. 25
Player to watch for goal and/or shots on goal: Adrian Kempe, F, LAK (vs. SJS)
The Los Angeles Kings wing leads them with 10 goals (tied for 22nd in NHL entering Sunday) this season, including five in his past four games. Kempe has at least three shots on goal in five straight games and nine of his past 11 games. The San Jose Sharks are allowing the second-most shots on goal per game (33.3) and fifth-most goals per game (3.43) entering Sunday. Per NHL EDGE stats, Kempe’s speed bursts over 20 miles per hour (76) rank in the 97th percentile, and his 22-plus mph bursts (six) rank in the 96th percentile entering Sunday. He’s also among the leaders in average shot speed (64.85 mph; 92nd percentile) and leads Los Angeles in shots on goal (60). -- Chris Meaney
Player to watch for assist and/or point: Robert Thomas, F, STL (at NYR)
The St. Louis Blues center will have a new coach as Jim Montgomery, who takes over for Drew Bannister, will make his debut Monday. Thomas, who plays on the top line with wings Jordan Kyrou and Pavel Buchnevich, stands to benefit from a new offensive strategy; the Blues are averaging the third-fewest goals per game (2.36), tied for the fourth-fewest shots on goal per game (26.2) and have the eighth-worst power play (16.7 percent) entering Sunday. Thomas has three assists and seven shots on goal in three games since returning Nov. 19 after missing 12 games because of a fractured ankle. Thomas has five points (two goals, three assists) in his past four games against the New York Rangers, and, per NHL EDGE stats, his offensive zone time percentage at even strength (43.2) is in the 80th percentile entering Sunday, an improvement from last season (41.3; 60th percentile). The Rangers have allowed the most shots on goal per game in the NHL over the past month (34.0 since Oct. 24) and been outshot 41-13 in the first period over their past two games. -- Troy Perlowitz
Player to watch for point and/or shots on goal: Jonathan Marchessault, F, NSH (at NJD)
The Nashville Predators wing scored his first goal at 5-on-5 and had his first assist in that situation against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday. Marchessault led Nashville in shots on goal (six) and had their second-most shot attempts (eight) behind forward Filip Forsberg (10). Marchessault has started slow with Nashville (four goals, 12 points in 21 games) after scoring an NHL career-high 42 goals and having 69 points in 82 games with the Vegas Golden Knights last season but has rebounded lately with five points (two goals, three assists) in his past seven games. Marchessault ranks 22nd in the NHL in shots on goal (68) entering Sunday, and, per NHL EDGE stats, is in the 84th percentile in top shot speed (88.97 mph). Nashville, as a team, is struggling to score, ranking last in both shooting percentage (5.02) and goals (23) at 5-on-5 entering Sunday. But Marchessault has had at least three shots on goal in four straight games and six of his past seven games, indicating that his career-low shooting percentage (5.9) could improve soon. -- Chris Meaney
Player to watch for shots on goal: Daniel Sprong, F, SEA (at ANA)
The Seattle Kraken wing was moved up to the second line in just his third game since returning in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks earlier this month. Sprong has a team-high nine shots on goal over the past two games, with five of those coming on the power play. He will get the majority of his even-strength minutes with pass-first center Chandler Stephenson and wing Jaden Schwartz, who gets to the net and creates opportunities off the cycle. Per NHL EDGE stats, Sprong’s average shot speed is 70.18 mph to rank among the League’s best (98th percentile entering Sunday). The Anaheim Ducks have allowed the most shots on goal per game (34.0) this season and have the League’s worst shot attempts percentage at 5-on-5 (44.5 percent) entering Sunday. -- Troy Perlowitz
