Fantasy picks, props with EDGE stats for today
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THU. NOV. 21
Player to watch for goal: Andrew Mangiapane, F, WSH (vs. COL)
The Washington Capitals are without injured forward Alex Ovechkin, the NHL's leading goal scorer (15), but Mangiapane has renewed upside upon being elevated to the top line with center Dylan Strome and wing Aliaksei Protas. Mangiapane, acquired from the Calgary Flames in the offseason, has scored four goals on 30 shots in 18 games this season, and his shooting percentage (13.3) is nearly in line with his career average (14.3). Mangiapane had career highs in goals (35) and power-play goals (eight) for the Flames in 2021-22, and, per NHL EDGE stats, ranks in the 75th percentile in average shot speed (59.79 miles per hour) this season. The Colorado Avalanche could be getting goalie Alexandar Georgiev back from injury Thursday; they have the worst team save percentage (.854) in the NHL. -- Pete Jensen
Player to watch for an assist and/or point: Jonathan Drouin, F, COL (at WSH)
The Colorado Avalanche wing had an assist in this third game of the season against the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday. It was just his second game playing back on the top line and first power play unit with elite center Nathan MacKinnon, who leads the NHL in points (34). Drouin had an NHL career-high 56 points, including 37 assists, in his first season with the Avalanche; he also played a career-best 18:11 per game last season, and, although it’s a small sample size this season, he's averaging 19:52 in his second season with Colorado. It’ll be a true test for Washington’s third-ranked penalty kill (87.7 percent), as the Avalanche have the fourth-best power play (30.6) and are getting healthier with the recent returns of Drouin, Valeri Nichushkin and Artturi Lehkonen. Per NHL EDGE stats, Drouin’s offensive zone time percentage at even strength (47.2) is in the 98th percentile after being in the 84th percentile (42.8) last season. -- Chris Meaney
More on NHL EDGE stats: Capitals outlook after Ovechkin injury
Player to watch for point and/or goal: Brandon Hagel, F, TBL (vs. CBJ)
The Tampa Bay Lightning wing is averaging a point per game (17 in 17 games) this season and has found chemistry with center Anthony Cirelli, who has assisted on five of Hagel's eight goals this season. Hagel was elevated to the top line with Nikita Kucherov at practice Wednesday and ranks third on the Lightning in shot attempts (87) behind only Kucherov (129) and defenseman Victor Hedman (108). Per NHL EDGE stats, Hagel's max skating speed (23.06 mph) ranks in the 94th percentile and frequently leads to scoring chances off the rush, and his five high-danger goals ranks second among Tampa Bay skaters behind only Brayden Point (seven). The Columbus Blue Jackets have the fifth-worst team save percentage (.880) this season and have allowed at least three goals in each of their past seven road games against the Lightning (0-6-1 in those games). -- Troy Perlowitz
Player to watch for point and/or power-play point: Charlie McAvoy, D, BOS (vs. UTA)
The Boston Bruins defenseman has bounce-back appeal after their coaching change from Jim Montgomery to Joe Sacco considering the 26-year-old has been held to seven points (three goals, four assists), two on the power play, in 20 games this season. McAvoy is averaging a team-high 23:58 per game (20th in NHL), plays on the first power-play unit with exposure to elite forward David Pastrnak and has shown signs of improvement lately with three points (one goal, two assists) and nine shots on goal over his past four games. Per NHL EDGE stats, two of McAvoy's three goals this season have come from long range (91st percentile), and he ranks in the 80th percentile in long-range shots on goal (16); McAvoy also ranks seventh League-wide in total skating distance (70.55). The Utah Hockey Club has been outscored 10-4 over its consecutive losses and is tied for the sixth-worst penalty kill percentage (75.0) this season. -- Pete Jensen
FRI. NOV. 22
Player to watch for a point: Gabriel Vilardi, F, WPG (at PIT)
The Winnipeg Jets wing has 12 points (seven goals, five assists) in his past 13 games and impressive totals in goals (29) and points (51 in 66 games) since they acquired him from the Los Angeles Kings two offseasons ago. He’s averaging an NHL career-high 18:19 in his second season with Winnipeg, and his line with elite forwards Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele has reached another level. Per NHL EDGE stats, Vilardi has 20 high-danger shots (94th percentile entering Thursday) and seven high-danger goals, only one behind Scheifele (who's tied for League lead). Connor, meanwhile, is tied with Scheifele for third in the NHL in goals (12), and Connor's 70 shots on goal rank fifth in the League entering Thursday. It's a trio that has totaled 63 points in 19 games. The Jets have the best power play (35.7) and are averaging the second-most goals per game (4.21) entering Thursday, while the Penguins have allowed a League-most 3.86 goals per game and the third-most shots on goal per game (32.9). -- Chris Meaney
Player to watch for shots on goal: Cutter Gauthier, F, ANA (vs. BUF)
The Anaheim Ducks rookie had a long season-opening goal drought (none on 35 shots on goal over first 15 games) but has responded with goals in two of his past three games. Although Gauthier is currently playing on the third line and second power play, he's tied for third on the Ducks in shots on goal (41 in 18 games), ranks fifth among NHL rookies in points (eight in 18 games) and second in his class in SOG (41) behind Dallas Stars forward Logan Stankoven (53 in 18 games) entering Thursday. Gauthier is also an NHL EDGE stats standout; he ranks in the 92nd percentile in top skating speed (22.97 miles per hour) and 95th percentile in top shot speed (93.22 mph; just outside top 10 among forwards) entering Thursday. The Buffalo Sabres are allowing the 10th-most shots on goal per game on the road (30.8 in eight such games) this season. -- Pete Jensen
