WED. MAR 26
Player to watch for a point and/or power-play point: Brock Boeser, F, VAN (at NYI)
The Vancouver Canucks wing is tied with linemate Jake DeBrusk for the team lead in goals (23) this season, including five (four at even strength, one on the power play) in his past four games. Boeser, DeBrusk and center Pius Suterhave formed the Canucks top forward line since Elias Pettersson was injured on Saturday against the New York Rangers (Pettersson will miss the remainder of this road trip); the trio has outscored their opponents 2-0 when on the ice together at 5-on-5 over the past two games. Boeser also plays on the Cancuks top power play where he has 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) to rank second on the team behind only elite defenseman Quinn Hughes (25). Boeser has nine points (two goals, seven assists) in his past five games against the New York Islanders, who have the third worst penalty kill percentage in the NHL this season (72.1 percent). Per NHL EDGE stats, Boeser ranks in the 96th percentile at his position in both high-danger goals (17) and top shot speed (94.86 mph). -- Troy Perlowitz
Player to watch for a goal and/or shots on goal: Ryan Donato, F, CHI (vs. NJD)
The Chicago Blackhawks wing scored twice in Sunday's 7-4 win against the Philadelphia Flyers which gives him a team-leading and career high 25 goals in 69 games this season (Donato scored 26 goals in 149 games over the previous two seasons combined). Donato also leads all Blackhawks skaters in shot attempts (33) and shots on goal (21) over his past six games (since Mar. 13). Donato, who will turn 29 years old early next month and can become an unrestricted free agent after this season, is playing on the team's top line at even strength with a pair of former first round draft picks: 21-year-old Frank Nazar (No. 13 overall in 2022) and 19-year-old Connor Bedard (No. 1 overall in 2023), who leads the Blackhawks with 56 points (20 goals, 36 assists in 71 games), including four (three goals, one assist) in his past four games. Per NHL EDGE stats, Donato ranks highly in high-danger goals (15; 93rd percentile), midrange shots on goal (57; 89th percentile) and midrange goals (eight; 87th percentile). The New Jersey Devils are winless in three straight (0-2-1) despite holding a third period lead in two of those three games. -- Perlowitz
Player to watch for a point: Jackson LaCombe, D, ANA (vs. BUF)
The Anaheim Ducks defenseman has points in back-to-back games (one goal, one assist during span) and 12 of the 30 goals scored by the team's blue line this season. LaCombe has taken advantage of the added ice time since Cam Fowler was traded to the St. Louis Blues in December (23:19 per game since trade compared to 18:40 per game before) as the 24-year-old ranks tied for eighth at his position in points (31 in 43 games) since Dec. 12. He is the fourth Ducks defenseman under the age of 25 to score at least 12 goals in a single season, joining Hampus Lindholm (13 in 2017-18), Sami Vatanen (12 in 2014-15) and Oleg Tverdovsky (twice; 15 in 1999-2000 and 14 in 2000-01). Per NHL EDGE stats, LaCombe ranks in the top three among defensemen in high-danger shots on goal (21; third behind Zach Werenski and Cale Makar) and high-danger goals (five; tied for third) while also ranking highly in 20-plus mph speed bursts (83; 95th percentile). The Boston Bruins are winless in six straight (0-5-1), nine of their past 11 (2-8-1) and 14 of their past 17 games (3-11-3). -- Perlowitz
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Others to consider for point separately or together:
Timo Meier, F, NJD (at CHI)
Roope Hintz, F, DAL (at EDM)
Morgan Geekie, F, BOS (at ANA)
Others to consider for goal and/or SOG:
Kyle Palmieri, F, NYI (vs. VAN)
Jake DeBrusk, F, VAN (at NYI)
Wyatt Johnston, F, DAL (at EDM)
Others to consider for assist:
Nico Hischier, F, NJD (at CHI)
Connor Bedard, F, CHI (vs. NJD)
David Pastrnak, F, BOS (at ANA)
Others to consider for SOG separately or together:
Jesper Bratt, F, NJD (at CHI)
Bo Horvat, F, NYI (vs. VAN)
Matt Duchene, F, DAL (at EDM)
Line combos to consider:
NYI: Anders Lee -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Anthony Duclair
VAN: Drew O'Connor -- Aatu Raty -- Kiefer Sherwood
EDM: Vasily Podkolzin -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- Viktor Arvidsson
ANA: Cutter Gauthier -- Leo Carlsson -- Alex Killorn
