This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
The NHL heads to the All-Star break with a busy 13-game slate Thursday. Just a year ago, John Scott was headlining the event, and the shift to a three-on-three tournament proved to be a success -- at least in my books.
Like it or lump it, the format unleashed last year was entertaining, and the daily contests at DraftKings were fun. This is an opportunity for you to refresh for the fantasy stretch drive, and sit back and watch high-event hockey with $1 million on the line.
Featured Matchups
Penguins (PP: 4, PK: 24) at Bruins (PP: 19, PK: 2), 7:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Matt Murray (17-5-1, 2.35, .922), Tuukka Rask (23-12-4, 2.13, .919)
Key Injuries:Matt Cullen (foot), Patric Hornqvist (lower body), Kris Letang (knee), Evgeni Malkin (lower body)
The Bruins almost blew a two-goal lead Tuesday, but instead scored consecutive goals in the third period and overtime to beat Detroit 4-3. The win curbed a four-game losing streak. Pittsburgh had scored 24 goals during a four-game winning streak before being shutout by St. Louis on Tuesday. It was also just the third loss on home ice all year for the Penguins.
It's been an interesting performance slide for Rask this year. After posting a .939 save percentage and 1.25 GAA in October, both marks have negatively regressed each month, and he sports a disastrous .886 save percentage and 2.73 GAA through 11 January games. While this is a daunting matchup for Boston to begin with, Pittsburgh also has
The NHL heads to the All-Star break with a busy 13-game slate Thursday. Just a year ago, John Scott was headlining the event, and the shift to a three-on-three tournament proved to be a success -- at least in my books.
Like it or lump it, the format unleashed last year was entertaining, and the daily contests at DraftKings were fun. This is an opportunity for you to refresh for the fantasy stretch drive, and sit back and watch high-event hockey with $1 million on the line.
Featured Matchups
Penguins (PP: 4, PK: 24) at Bruins (PP: 19, PK: 2), 7:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Matt Murray (17-5-1, 2.35, .922), Tuukka Rask (23-12-4, 2.13, .919)
Key Injuries:Matt Cullen (foot), Patric Hornqvist (lower body), Kris Letang (knee), Evgeni Malkin (lower body)
The Bruins almost blew a two-goal lead Tuesday, but instead scored consecutive goals in the third period and overtime to beat Detroit 4-3. The win curbed a four-game losing streak. Pittsburgh had scored 24 goals during a four-game winning streak before being shutout by St. Louis on Tuesday. It was also just the third loss on home ice all year for the Penguins.
It's been an interesting performance slide for Rask this year. After posting a .939 save percentage and 1.25 GAA in October, both marks have negatively regressed each month, and he sports a disastrous .886 save percentage and 2.73 GAA through 11 January games. While this is a daunting matchup for Boston to begin with, Pittsburgh also has added motivation to bounce-back offensively.
Blue Jackets (PP: 1, PK: 8) at Predators (PP: 16, PK: 10), 8:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Sergei Bobrovsky (28-8-2, 2.04, .930), Pekka Rinne (18-12-6, 2.34, .921)
Key Injuries:David Savard (undisclosed),Roman Josi (upper body)
This is a matchup of two teams sporting contradicting strengths. Additionally, these are two teams with opposite preseason projections and current positions in the standings. First, Columbus is generating the fifth-most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (12.3) and scoring the third-most goals per game (3.3), whereas Nashville is allowing the fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (8.54) and 10th-fewest goals per game (2.58).
Leading into the season, the Predators were viewed as a sneaky Stanley Cup Finals pick, and Columbus was largely overlooked. However, it's been the Blue Jackets that have taken the league by storm, and Nashville is in the thick of a playoff battle. At least, Filip Forsberg has finally caught fire with 12 goals and 15 points through his past 18 games, right?
Oilers (PP: 12, PK: 16) at Sharks (PP: 22, PK: 11), 10:30 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Cam Talbot (25-12-7, 2.36, .921), Martin Jones (25-14-2, 2.23, .917)
Key Injuries:Andrew Ference (hip), Darnell Nurse (ankle), Tyler Pitlick (knee), Dylan DeMelo (wrist), Joonas Donskoi (undisclosed)
The Sharks had positive offensive regression coming, as highlighted last week, and San Jose has begun to see their chances translate into goals with 22 tallies during its current six-game winning streak. Logan Couture has also been solid of late with two goals, six points and 10 shots through his past four outings. If he can begin to provide more offensive punch, it would be a huge boon for fantasy owners and San Jose. He's obviously capable, too.
The Oilers enter Thursday's date following an impressive 4-0 win over Anaheim at the Honda Center, and Talbot improved to 5-0-1 with a 1.43 GAA and .946 save percentage through his past six outings. Offensively, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl continue to lead the charge for Edmonton, and the duo have combined for 32 power-play points and 3.44 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five. Meanwhile, Milan Lucic -- McDavid's projected linemate this preseason -- has gone 25 games without a multi-point showing and has just a single goal and three points through 12 January games.
Other Matchups
Maple Leafs (PP: 2, PK: 4) at Flyers (PP: 9, PK: 18), 7:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Curtis McElhinney (2-1-2, 2.39, .924), Michal Neuvirth (6-4-0, 3.38, .877)
Key Injuries:Michael Del Zotto (lower body)
Toronto improved their active surge to 11-2-2 with a 4-0 win over Detroit on Wednesday, and the Flyers won a second consecutive road game with a 2-0 shutout against the Rangers. Look for this game to be won with special teams, as both the Flyers and Maple Leafs boast excellent power-play attacks, but there is a disparity in their penalty killing. Still, with both clubs on the wrong end of back-to-back games, there is likely also an edge for the home team.
Kings (PP: 21, PK: 12) at Hurricanes (PP: 23, PK: 1), 7:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Peter Budaj (21-14-3, 2.11, .918), Cam Ward (18-15-6, 2.63, .906)
Key Injuries:Eddie Lack (concussion), Nic Dowd (lower body), Matt Greene (undisclosed), Jonathan Quick (groin),Tyler Toffoli (lower body)
Currently outside of the playoffs looking in, Los Angeles has done wonders with an underwhelming roster behind its top players. The Kings snapped a four-game losing skid Tuesday, but will be in tough against another solid possession team. Los Angeles (54.3) and Carolina (52.5) rank second and fourth in Corsi For percentage, respectively, after all. Look for the Hurricanes' superior depth to prove to be the difference on home ice. Carolina has its own four-game losing streak to put behind them.
Canadiens (PP: 3, PK: 23) at Islanders (PP: 27, PK: 21), 7:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Carey Price (22-9-5, 2.32, .921), Thomas Greiss (13-7-3, 2.31, .927)
Key Injuries:David Desharnais (knee), Alex Galchenyuk (knee), Brendan Gallagher (hand), Andrei Markov (lower body), Greg Pateryn (ankle), Travis Hamonic (knee), Thomas Hickey (lower body), Anders Lee (illness)
The Islanders have won three of four contests with Doug Weight serving as interim head coach and have allowed just seven goals over their past five games. Still, New York has surrendered the second-most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (12.65), and Price righted the ship with a 30-save win Tuesday. Montreal will be strong favorites to head into the All-Star break with a win over the Islanders.
Capitals (PP: 14, PK: 3) at Devils (PP: 29, PK: 15), 7:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Braden Holtby (23-8-4, 1.96, .929), Cory Schneider (14-15-7, 2.75, .908)
Key Injuries:Beau Bennett (lower body), Andy Greene (upper body), John Moore (concussion), Jay Beagle (illness), John Carlson (lower body)
The Capitals are 11-1-1 in January with a league-high 4.46 goals per game and allowing just 2.08 (third fewest). The scoring is coming throughout the top three lines, and Holtby boasts an 8-0 record with a .935 save percentage and 1.80 GAA for the month. New Jersey is generating the fourth-fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes this year and scored just 2.08 goals per game this month. It's been 11 games since Taylor Hall registered a multi-point showing, and he has just six points -- two goals -- during the stretch.
Flames (PP: 13, PK: 19) at Senators (PP: 15, PK: 13), 7:30 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Chad Johnson (16-12-1, 2.50, .913), Mike Condon (14-7-4, 2.42, .917)
Key Injuries:Craig Anderson (personal), Mark Borowiecki (illness), Andrew Hammond (ankle)
The Flames has lost four consecutive games and allowed 20 goals during the skid. Additionally, Sam Bennett's goal with just two seconds left in Tuesday's game against Montreal saved Calgary from being shutout in consecutive contests. This will also be their third road game in four nights. Ottawa, meanwhile, sports a 6-1-1 record with wins over a number of admirable opponents (Edmonton, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Columbus, Toronto and Washington). Keep tabs on Hoffman, he had seven goals, nine points and 20 shots through the first seven games of the stretch before missing Tuesday's date with Washington.
Lightning (PP: 5, PK: 20) at Panthers (PP: 24, PK: 5), 7:30 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Ben Bishop (11-11-3, 2.78, .905), Roberto Luongo (13-13-6, 2.45, .921)
Key Injuries:Aleksander Barkov (upper body), Jonathan Huberdeau (achilles), James Reimer (personal), Ryan Callahan (hip), Jason Garrison (illness), Brayden Point (upper body), Steven Stamkos (knee)
With a 3-7-1 record this month, the Lightning are now tied for last place in the Eastern Conference. They've generated 10.8 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes but scored just 2.36 goals per game in January. For the season, Tampa Bay has created 10.17 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes and scored 2.71 goals per game, so there should be some positive regression ahead. The Panthers have lost four consecutive games, and with the trade deadline nearing, expect Florida to be a key player.
Blues (PP: 6, PK: 7) at Wild (PP: 10, PK: 6), 8:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Carter Hutton (7-6-2, 2.62, .901), Devan Dubnyk (26-8-3, 1.91, .935)
Key Injuries:Jonas Brodin (finger)
The Blues are coming off an impressive road win in Pittsburgh, and now face another daunting road matchup against the Wild. Minnesota is 16-6 at home and boast an active 20-2-1 record. Hutton stood tall against the Pens on Tuesday, but his numbers shouldn't instill confidence against Minnesota's fourth-ranked offense (3.26 goals per game). Nino Niederreiter remains hot with six goals, 13 points and 34 shots through his past 15 games, and he's found his way to the top line alongside Eric Staal and Charlie Coyle.
Sabres (PP: 7, PK: 30) at Stars (PP: 20, PK: 29), 8:30 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Robin Lehner (12-12-5, 2.57, .920), Kari Lehtonen (9-13-6, 2.84, .901)
Key Injuries:Josh Gorges (abdomen), Johan Larsson (wrist), Jake McCabe (shoulder), Radek Faksa (lower body), Ales Hemsky (hip),Mattias Janmark (knee), Johnny Oduya (lower body), Jamie Oleksiak (hand)
The Sabres enter with three straight wins, and Dallas has lost three consecutive games. However, this is also Buffalo's third successive road game, and the Stars are considerably better on home ice. Jack Eichel has three multi-point games through his past five outings for four goals, six points and 29 shots while averaging 20:21 of ice time (2:57 with the man advantage). Tyler Seguin proved his health with a goal Tuesday, and he's up to seven tallies, 14 points and 58 shots through his past 15 contests.
Jets (PP: 17, PK: 27) at Blackhawks (PP: 18, PK: 28), 8:30 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Connor Hellebuyck (16-13-1, 2.82, .907), Corey Crawford (18-11-3, 2.57, .918)
Key Injuries:Ben Chiarot (illness), Marko Dano (lower body), Toby Enstrom (upper body), Tyler Myers (lower body), Mathieu Perreault (upper body), Drew Stafford (lower leg)
Pavelec's numbers are underwhelming, and he's lost consecutive starts. It's already must-win time for Winnipeg, so a switch to Connor Hellebuyck sooner or later shouldn't be shocking. Nikolaj Ehlers (12 goals and 19 points) and Mark Scheifele (seven goals and 18 points) have been offensive cogs through their past 18 games, and the duo now boasts an impressive 3.58 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five over the past two years. Chicago's 8-7-1 record dating back to before the Christmas break is likely more representative than its dominant start (13-4-1).
Canucks (PP: 28, PK: 22) at Coyotes (PP: 25, PK: 26), 9:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Ryan Miller (14-11-3, 2.50, .919), Mike Smith (10-13-5, 2.95, .915)
Key Injuries:Shane Doan (upper body), Max Domi (hand), Jordan Martinook (undisclosed), Brad Richardson (leg), Erik Gudbranson (wrist), Jannik Hansen (knee), Ben Hutton (hand)
Vancouver enters on the wrong end of back-to-back road games after winning 3-2 in Colorado on Wednesday. The Coyotes continue to allow the most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (13.11) and haven't won three consecutive games all season. However, with Vancouver in a tough schedule spot and sporting a disastrous 6-14-3 road record, this could be a chance for Arizona to win an ugly one.
Recommended Pickup
Pavel Buchnevich, F, NYR: After hitting the scoresheet in each of his first four games (two goals and six points) back from a 26-game absence due to a back injury, Buchnevich hasn't registered a point in three consecutive games. He's currently being deployed with Mika Zibanejad and Rick Nash in a top-six role, and Buchnevich had combined with Zibanejad for an incredible 5.53 goals per 60 minutes before Wednesday's game against Philadelphia. The rookie has been impressive when healthy with six goals, 14 points and 28 shots through 17 games, and being attached to the New York offense is a plus. The Rangers entered Wednesday averaging 3.44 goals per game and 12.75 high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes, which are both the second-highest marks in the league.
