SAT. DEC. 21
Player to watch for goal and/or point: Cole Caufield, F, MTL (vs. DET)
The Montreal Canadiens wing has 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists) in 32 games this season and extended his point streak to four games (five assists) against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday. Caufield led Montreal forwards with three 5-on-5 shots on goal and had a power-play assist on wing Patrik Laine’s seventh power-play goal in eight games with the Canadiens (defenseman Lane Hutson has assisted on six of Laine’s PPG). Caufield has power-play points in consecutive games and 10 PPP (seven goals, three assists) this season. The Red Wings have the second-worst penalty kill percentage in the NHL (67.4) and have allowed the most power-play goals (28). They’ve allowed the fifth-most shots on goal (30.6) and eighth-most goals per game (3.19). Caufield has had at least one point in 13 of his past 17 games (seven goals, 12 assists in span). He scored a career-high 28 goals last season despite a career-low shooting percentage (8.9; 19.5 percent this season; 12.6 percent in career). Per NHL EDGE stats, Caufield ranks among the leaders in midrange shots (28; 90th percentile) and midrange goals (six; 95th percentile). -- Chris Meaney
Player to watch for goal and/or SOG: David Pastrnak, F, BOS (vs. BUF)
The Boston Bruins wing has 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists) in 34 games and is showing signs of heating up with three goals in his past five games and at least four shots on goal in four of those games. Pastrnak has scored at least 30 goals in seven of his past eight seasons (20 in 48 games in 2020-21) and has 148 goals (including career-high 61 in 2022-23) over his past three seasons. Pastrnak is tied with Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon for the League lead in shots on goal (136) but has a career-low 8.8 percent shooting rate (13.7 in career). Pastrnak has points in eight of his past 11 games and 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) over that span. He has at least one point in 18 of his past 24 games against the Buffalo Sabres and 30 points over that span (12 goals, 18 assists). The Sabres have a 12-game winless streak (0-9-3) and have allowed a League-high 3.86 goals per game since Nov. 21. Per NHL EDGE stats, Pastrnak leads forwards in longrange shots on goal (23), ranks ninth in midrange SOG (43), and is in the 92nd percentile in midrange goals (five). Pastrnak also ranks among the leaders in top shot speed (94.91 mph; 97th percentile) and offensive zone time percentage (47.1; 97th percentile).
Player to watch for point and/or SOG: Kirill Marchenko, F, CBJ (at PHI)
The Columbus Blue Jackets wing has 33 points (11 goals, 22 assists) in 33 games as he continues his breakout season in his third year in the NHL. Marchenko set NHL career highs in goals (23), assists (19), points (42), power-play points (13), shots (193) and ice time per game (16:25) last season. Marchenko is averaging 18:06 per game this season and 2.7 shots on goal (compared to 2.4 last season). He has had at least one point in seven of his past eight games and nine points over that span (one goal, eight assists). The wing leads Columbus in points, and his 90 shots on goal (at least four SOG in four of his past five games) are tied with his center linemate Sean Monahan for second on the Blue Jackets behind defenseman Zach Werenski (115). The Philadelphia Flyers have lost three straight games, six of their past eight and have allowed at least four goals in all six of those losses. The Flyers have allowed the fourth-most goals per game (3.55) this season and third most (3.62) since Nov. 21. Per NHL EDGE stats, Marchenko is tied for third in midrange goals (nine), and his 37 midrange shots rank in the 95th percentile. -- Meaney
Player to watch for point and/or assist: Max Domi, F, TOR (vs. NYI)
The Toronto Maple Leafs forward has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 25 games this season, but five have come over his past three games. Domi has scored goals in three straight games since he was put on a line with wing Nicholas Robertson (six points in past three games) and wing Bobby McMann (five points in past three games); that trio has combined for eight goals and 16 points in three games together. The New York Islanders have allowed at least four goals in three straight games and only have one win in their past eight road games. Per NHL EDGE stats, Domi ranks among the leaders in top skating speed (23.36 mph; 97th percentile) and average shot speed (66.02 mph; 95th percentile). -- Meaney
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Others to consider for goal and/or SOG:
Jack Hughes, F, NJD (vs. PIT)
Patrik Laine, F, MTL (vs. DET)
Brady Tkachuk, F, OTT (at VAN)
Others to consider for point and/or SOG:
Brad Marchand, F, BOS (vs. BUF)
Timo Meier, F, NJD (vs. PIT)
Bryan Rust, F, PIT (at NJD)
Others to consider for point and/or assist:
Lane Hutson, D, MTL (vs. DET)
Mark Stone, F, VGK (vs. SEA)
Dylan Larkin, F, DET (at MTL)
