In his first recreation towards the Canucks, J.T. Miller scored the empty-net purpose to seal a 5-3 win for the Rangers. For the reason that commerce, Miller has 20 factors in 21 video games with the Rangers whereas his icetime has elevated a little bit bit. Miller additionally registered an help, three pictures, six hits, and two blocked pictures in a recreation that he almost definitely had circled on his calendar. He was usually matched up towards Elias Pettersson and was not shy about enjoying bodily towards Petey or any of his former teammates.
Pettersson and Nils Hoglander each left the sport with undisclosed accidents. Dangerous timing for the Canucks, as Pettersson had discovered his recreation lately with 9 factors in his earlier six video games getting into Saturday’s recreation.
The Canucks actually deserved a greater destiny on this one, not solely with the Pettersson state of affairs however how they managed the play. The Canucks outshot the Rangers 40-12, which is nothing new for the Rangers. That they had additionally been outshot two video games in the past 35-13 at dwelling towards Calgary. Regardless of a few of their star energy, the Rangers seem like a staff that may simply be checked off the puck. Igor Shesterkin saved the Rangers within the recreation, making 37 saves.
Quinn Hughes completed the sport with 9 pictures on purpose, whereas Jake DeBrusk took eight pictures. Hughes was on the ice for practically half the sport, logging 28:25.
Then again, Kevin Lankinen had a very dangerous begin in permitting 4 objectives on these 12 pictures. Lankinen has already far surpassed his earlier profession excessive in video games performed by showing in 46 video games with the Canucks. He could also be beginning to put on down, though he’s a extra trusted choice than Arturs Silovs in the intervening time.
Together with his 384th hit of the season, Kiefer Sherwood is the brand new single-season hits document holder. The document had been set by Sherwood’s former Nashville teammate Jeremy Lauzon final season. Sherwood has a continuous motor – a participant who might be tough to play towards however you’d like to have in your staff. His earlier profession excessive was 234 hits, set final season, so this season he has actually moved into fantasy relevance.
Sherwood’s record-breaking hit was his first of the sport, and he completed with 12 hits. With practically 400 hits on the season, Sherwood is averaging practically six hits per recreation. Will Cuylle, who has the league’s second-highest hit complete (264), averages 3.71 hits per recreation. That is how dominant Sherwood has been within the hits class this season.
–
Thomas Harley scored two objectives, together with the game-winner simply 9 seconds into extra time towards Philadelphia. Harley additionally fired six pictures on purpose whereas logging 25 minutes, persevering with his dominant play whereas Miro Heiskanen is out of the lineup. Since Heiskanen’s harm, Harley has 21 factors in simply 19 video games. That features 9 power-play factors. Harley may stay on the Stars’ prime energy play even when Heiskanen returns, which can not occur throughout the common season.
Travis Konecny scored his first purpose in 14 video games and simply his second purpose since January 21. He additionally entered Saturday’s recreation with simply two assists in his final 10 video games. That is a noticeable dropoff for Konecny, who began the season with 27 factors in his first 23 video games.
Tyson Foerster had an help for the Flyers, however he additionally had an excellent multicategory day with six pictures, 5 hits, and two blocked pictures.
–
Shock last-minute scratches are as annoying as something in fantasy hockey. Saturday’s sufferer was Mackenzie Weegar, who missed Saturday’s recreation with a lower-body harm. That is an unlucky break for groups in multicategory leagues, as Weeger is at present third within the NHL in mixed pictures/hits/blocks with 497, behind solely Sherwood and Brady Tkachuk.
Regardless of Weegar’s absence, Calgary was capable of pull by way of with a 4-3 extra time win over the Islanders. Jonathan Huberdeau stays sizzling with a purpose and two assists, giving him 9 factors over his final six video games. With two objectives and objectives in three consecutive video games, Matt Coronato has reached the 20-goal mark in his first full season. Rasmus Andersson pitched in three assists.
It has been a down season for Noah Dobson, however he’s having fun with his most efficient stretch of the season on the proper time for groups within the fantasy playoffs. Dobson assisted twice on Saturday, giving him three consecutive multipoint video games and 7 factors over his final 4 video games. After reaching 70 factors final season, Dobson has been producing at a 48-point full-season tempo and can seemingly end under that as a consequence of video games already missed.
–
The Kings’ 7-2 win over Carolina did not end in any monster video games, as no Kings participant had greater than two factors. Nevertheless, each Kings ahead registered no less than one level, so there was one thing for everybody.
Pyotr Kochetkov was in web for all seven objectives, so hopefully you were not beginning him. You in all probability did not hesitate to start out Kochetkov both, as he entered this recreation with 4 wins and 4 high quality begins over his final 5 video games. Such is the fantasy playoffs, which might be merciless.
So as to add harm to insult for the Canes, Seth Jarvis left the sport with an undisclosed harm. After the sport, Rod Brind’Amour stated that Jarvis “regarded alright” and that he although the Canes “averted the worst.” The Canes play once more at present (Sunday) in Anaheim, so Jarvis needs to be thought of questionable for that recreation.
–
Whenever you’re good, you’re fortunate; and whenever you’re fortunate, you’re good… one thing like that for the Blues proper now.
Dealing with his hometown (and former staff) Blues, Patrick Maroon introduced he will likely be retiring on the finish of the season.
–
Alex Ovechkin replace time. Although the Capitals scored six on Vitek Vanecek and the Panthers (all within the first half of the sport), the Nice 8 didn’t rating considered one of them. Ovechkin did end with two assists and 5 pictures for those who’re counting on him for greater than objectives. Ovie now has 10 factors over his final seven video games.
Connor McMichael and Tom Wilson every completed with a purpose and an help. Wilson has been crimson sizzling lately with 14 factors over his final 10 video games. He additionally completed the sport with six hits and two blocked pictures.
The Panthers play once more at present (Sunday) towards Pittsburgh. Nevertheless, they play solely twice subsequent week and never till Friday, so Monday can be the day to chop any fringe Florida gamers out of your roster.
–
In Utah’s 6-4 win over Tampa Bay, Logan Cooley and Nick Schmaltz every completed with three factors. Each have been sizzling lately: Cooley with 4 objectives and two assists over his final 4 video games; Schmaltz with seven factors over his final 5 video games. Each are rostered in just below 50 p.c of Yahoo leagues, so they’re each stable provides/begins with Utah considered one of 12 groups to play 4 video games subsequent week.
In a shedding trigger for the Bolts, Jake Guentzel scored a purpose and added two assists, whereas Brayden Level scored two objectives. Over his final 4 video games, Guentzel has averaged 5 pictures per recreation. Level’s objectives have been his first in 9 video games.
–
Colorado/Montreal might need been the sport of the day. The Avalanche constructed up 3-0 and 4-1 leads earlier than the Habs tied the sport at 4 within the third interval. Colorado finally received the sport in a shootout.
With a purpose and an help, Brock Nelson has two consecutive multipoint video games after registering simply two factors in his first six video games with the Avalanche.
Juraj Slafkovsky led the Canadiens with two objectives. I had been contemplating dropping Slafkovsky to load up on Sunday, however this efficiency is making me have second ideas. As well as, the Habs play 4 video games subsequent week, so I might need to contemplate different choices. Slafkovsky has taken a minimal of three pictures in 5 of his final six video games, so he’s no less than attempting to make issues occur. Going again even additional, Slafkovsky has eight objectives and 13 factors and 46 hits in his final 13 video games. He’s a particular asset in bangers leagues.
–
Filip Forsberg crammed the statsheet in multicategory leagues towards the Leafs: two objectives, one help, plus-3, and 10 pictures on purpose. Forsberg is the lone Predator on the Frozen Instruments Sizzling Record with 5 factors over his final three video games. In a forgettable season for Nashville, Forsberg leads the staff in scoring (64 factors) by a sizeable margin.
Taking part in on Forsberg’s line, Luke Evangelista scored a purpose and added two assists. Previous to Saturday, Evangelista had not recorded some extent since March 6. Ought to he keep on the Forsberg line (and what has Nashville bought to lose by leaving him there), Evangelista could also be in line for a number of extra factors.
–
Tomas Hertl‘s hat trick turned out to be the distinction within the Golden Knights’ 6-3 win over Detroit. Hertl’s first season with Vegas has turned out nicely, as he has reached 30 objectives for the third time in his 12-season profession. Two of Hertl’s objectives have been on the ability play, giving him 14 PPG this season. Solely Leon Draisaitl and Jake Guentzel have extra power-play objectives than Hertl.
Jack Eichel completed with 4 factors (1 G, 3 A), giving him 16 factors in his final 11 video games. Eichel has now reached a profession excessive of 86 factors. Staying wholesome has been a problem for Eichel all through his profession, as he has performed no less than 70 video games simply as soon as in his profession. With out the accidents, Eichel has proven the potential for extra. If he can stay injury-free over the previous couple of weeks of the common season, Eichel is on tempo to complete along with his first 100-point season.
In a shedding trigger, Patrick Kane scored a power-play purpose whereas including two assists. Kane is the one Crimson Wing on the Frozen Instruments Sizzling Record with 9 factors over his final 5 video games.
–
With no Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl for the Oilers, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins stepped up with a hat trick and 5 pictures in 23:16 of icetime in a 5-4 win. After an outlier 104-point season, Nugent-Hopkins has seen his manufacturing decline for the second consecutive season. Nevertheless, he has turned up the manufacturing lately with 9 factors in his final 4 video games – three 3-point efforts in his final 4 video games. So long as the 2 prime Oiler scorers are out of the lineup, Nugent-Hopkins’ manufacturing may actually take off.
The accidents have additionally resulted in Jeff Skinner being fantasy-relevant once more. Skinner scored a purpose, giving him three objectives in his final two video games. He’s additionally on the Oilers’ prime energy play, one thing that wasn’t attainable till now. Averaging simply 12 minutes and alter for the Oilers this season, Skinner’s icetime has jumped to the 17-18-minute mark these previous two video games. It looks as if McDavid and Draisaitl may very well be out for no less than one other recreation or two, so Skinner is price a pickup subsequent week.
Stuart Skinner was again between the pipes on Saturday after being pulled by a concussion spotter late on Thursday. Skinner picked up a win whereas permitting 4 objectives on 31 pictures.
–
If at present is a vital day on your playoff match, better of luck to you! Observe me on X @Ian_Gooding and Threads @goodsfantasyhockey and Bluesky @goodsfantasyhockey.bsky.social
