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THU. OCT. 23
Player to watch for goal, point and/or shots on goal: Owen Tippett, F, PHI (at OTT; 7:00 p.m. ET; RDS2, TSN5, NBCSP)
Tippett leads the Flyers in goals (five), shots on goal (19) and shot attempts (34) in six games this season. Tippett, who has scored a goal in three straight games and has 12 shots on goal over that span, was recently promoted to the top line with center Sean Couturier (seven points in six games) and wing Travis Konecny (career-high 76 points last season). The Senators, who have lost five of their past six games, have the worst penalty kill percentage (57.7) in the NHL and have allowed the second-most goals per game (4.71) this season. Per NHL EDGE stats, Tippett ranks third in the entire NHL in 22-plus mph speed bursts (seven) and ranks highly among forwards in 20-plus mph bursts (29; 97th percentile), max skating speed (22.89 mph; 95th percentile), max shot speed (87.74 mph; 92nd percentile), midrange shots on goal (nine; 95th percentile) and high-danger goals (two; 84th percentile). -- Chris Meaney
Player to watch for shots on goal and/or assist: Evan Bouchard, D, EDM (vs. MTL; 9:00 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN2, SNW)
Bouchard only has one assist in seven games this season but leads the Oilers with 25 shots on goal (first among defensmen) and 44 shot attempts. Bouchard has had at least four SOG in four games this season and has at least three in six straight games. Bouchard, who had a career-high 235 SOG in 82 games last season, ranks third among defensemen in SOG (480), points (150) and power-play points (62) since 2023-24. Per NHL EDGE stats, Bouchard leads all defensemen in midrange SOG (13; tied for third in NHL) and is tied for sixth in the entire NHL in long-range SOG (10). He also ranks highly at his position in average shot speed (73.39 mph; 90th percentile), max shot speed (91.13 mph; 84th percentile), total miles skated (24.61; 95th percentile) and offensive zone time percentage (47.1; 95th percentile). -- Meaney
Player to watch for goal, point and/or shots on goal: Matthew Schaefer, D, NYI (vs. DET; 7:00 p.m. ET; FDSNDET, MSGSN)
Schaefer, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, has had at least one point in each of his first six games, including his first multipoint game (one goal, one assist) against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. Schaefer leads rookies in points (seven in six games) and shots on goal (19) and is tied for the second-most points among NHL defensemen behind Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche (eight in seven games). Per NHL EDGE stats, Schaefer had the hardest shot of any player League-wide on Tuesday (93.25 mph; 91st percentile among defensemen this season). Schaefer also ranks highly at his position in max skating speed (22.7 mph; 96th percentile), offensive zone time percentage (45.9; 90th percentile), 20-22 mph speed bursts (27; leads NHL defensemen) and high-danger goals (two; tied for League lead among D-men). The Detroit Red Wings are 5-2-0 this season but will be playing the second of back-to-back games and are tied for the ninth-worst 5-on-5 save percentage (.897). -- Pete Jensen
Player to watch for goal, point and/or shots on goal: Cutter Gauthier, F, ANA (at BOS; 7:00 p.m. ET; Victory+, KCOP-13, NESN)
The Anaheim Ducks forward leads them in goals (four; tied with Chris Kreider), even-strength points (five), and shots on goal (28; tied for eighth in NHL) through their first six games this season. Gauthier (21 years old) has found chemistry on a line with center Mason McTavish (22 years old) and Beckett Sennecke (19 years old); the trio has outscored its opponents 3-1 when on the ice together at 5-on-5. Gauthier, who ranked third among rookies in goals last season (20; trailing only Matvei Michkov's 26 and Macklin Celebrini's 25), is back in Boston only two years removed from tying the school record for goals in a single season at Boston College (38 in 2023-24). Per NHL EDGE stats, Gauthier ranks among the forward leaders in midrange shots on goal (14; second), top skating speed (22.99 mph; 96th percentile) and average shot speed (66.94 mph; 95th percentile). The Bruins have lost five straight games (four of them by one goal), and allowed at least three goals in six of their eight games this season. -- Troy Perlowitz
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Others to watch for goal and/or shots on goal:
Brayden Point, F, TBL (vs. CHI)
Kyle Connor, F, WPG (vs. SEA)
Dylan Guenther, F, UTA (at STL)
Mikko Rantanen, F, DAL (vs. LAK)
Carter Verhaeghe, F, FLA (vs. PIT)
Others to watch for point:
Leo Carlsson, F, ANA (at BOS)
Travis Konecny, F, PHI (at OTT)
Juraj Slafkovsky, F, MTL (at EDM)
Will Cuylle, F, NYR (vs. SJS)
Thomas Harley, D, DAL (vs. LAK)
Others to watch for assist:
Nick Suzuki, F, MTL (at EDM)
Roope Hintz, F, DAL (vs. LAK)
Sean Couturier, F, PHI (at OTT)
Jake Guentzel, F, TBL (vs. CHI)
Nick Schmaltz, F, UTA (at STL)
Others to watch for shots on goal:
Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL (vs. CAR)
Connor McDavid, F, EDM (vs. MTL)
Mika Zibanejad, F, NYR (vs. SJS)
Jason Robertson, F, DAL (vs. LAK)
Mark Scheifele, F, WPG (vs. SEA)
Point combos/trios to consider:
TBD
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FUTURES WATCH
NOTES: The below players are candidates to watch, from front-runners to sleepers, for various 2026 NHL Awards. These lists are a collaborative effort by Pete Jensen, Chris Meaney and Troy Perlowitz.
Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy:
- Connor McDavid, F, EDM
- Cole Caufield, F, MTL
- Matt Boldy, F, MIN
- Dylan Guenther, F, UTA
- Pavel Dorofeyev, F, VGK
Art Ross Trophy:
- Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL
- Jack Eichel, F, VGK
- Mikko Rantanen, F, DAL
- Kirill Kaprizov, F, MIN
- Nick Suzuki, F, MTL
Hart Trophy:
- Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL
- Jack Eichel, F, VGK
- Mikko Rantanen, F, DAL
- Kirill Kaprizov, F, MIN
- Nick Suzuki, F, MTL
Norris Trophy:
- Cale Makar, D, COL
- Lane Hutson, D, MTL
- Thomas Harley, D, DAL
- Shea Theodore, D, VGK
- Jake Sanderson, D, OTT
Vezina Trophy:
- Connor Hellebuyck, G, WPG
- Igor Shesterkin, G, NYR
- Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, TBL
- Jake Oettinger, G, DAL
Calder Trophy:
- Matthew Schaefer, D, NYI
- Ivan Demidov, F, MTL
- Zeev Buium, D, MIN
Stanley Cup:
- Colorado Avalanche
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Dallas Stars
