TUE. OCT. 15
Player to watch for goal: Jack Eichel, F, VGK (at WSH) -- The Vegas Golden Knights center is tied with Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Artemi Panarin of the New York Rangers for the NHL lead in points (seven in three games) and is due for more goals with only one on nine shots on goal this season. Eichel, who's playing on the top line with high-scoring forwards Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev (each has six points in three games), is coming off his second career 30-goal season (31; had career-high 36 with Buffalo Sabres in 2019-20). The Washington Capitals allowed five goals in their season-opening loss to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.
Player to watch for point: Jeff Skinner, F, EDM (vs. PHI) -- The Edmonton Oilers wing has had points in consecutive games and is quietly leading them in shots on goal (12) this season. Skinner has been playing in the top six since signing a one-year contract with Edmonton in the offseason and has been elevated to the top line with McDavid and Zach Hyman, giving him high upside against the Philadelphia Flyers, who are tied for the fourth-most goals allowed per game (4.00).
Player to watch for shots on goal: Sam Bennett, F, FLA (at CBJ) -- The Florida Panthers center has taken on an expanded role in the absence of injured captain Aleksander Barkov (lower body) and ranks third in the NHL in shots on goal (17) behind Dougie Hamilton (19) and Timo Meier (18) of the New Jersey Devils. Bennett's linemate, Matthew Tkachuk, remains out with an illness, but he's playing on the top line with Carter Verhaeghe and Evan Rodrigues and also brings exposure to Sam Reinhart on the first power play. The Columbus Blue Jackets are tied for the second-worst penalty kill percentage (57.1).
Player to watch for power-play point: MacKenzie Weegar, D, CGY (vs. CHI) -- The Calgary Flames defenseman has three points in his first three games, including two power-play goals. Weegar had an NHL career-high 15 power-play points last season, and the Flames are off to a hot start with the man advantage, ranking tied for 10th in the NHL (27.3 percent). Calgary is quietly leading the NHL in goals per game (5.33), and Weegar brings exposure to their top forwards Jonathan Huberdeau, Nazem Kadri, Andrei Kuzmenko and Connor Zary on the first power-play unit. The Chicago Blackhawks are tied for the third-most shots on goal allowed per game (33.3) this season.
