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THU. NOV. 6
Player to watch for goal, assist and/or shots on goal: Brandon Hagel, F, TBL (at VGK; 10:00 p.m. ET; The Spot, SCRIPPS, SN360, TVAS)
Hagel has nine points (four goals, five assists) in 13 games this season and eight points (four goals, four assists) in his past six games, including three multipoint games over that span. Hagel, who is tied for the League lead with the most posts hit (five) this season, has scored a goal in four of his past five games and has had at least three shots on goal in nine games this season. He is currently skating on the top line and first power play with elite wing Nikita Kucherov (11 points in 11 games) and center Brayden Point (nine points in 13 games). Per NHL EDGE stats, Hagel ranks highly among forwards in max skating speed (23.22 mph; 97th percentile), 20-plus mph speed bursts (39; 94th percentile), skating distance (40.63 miles; 88th percentile), max shot speed (87.58 mph; 89th percentile), midrange SOG (13; 89th percentile), high-danger goals (three; 82nd percentile) and offensive zone start percentage (45.0; 97th percentile). -- Chris Meaney
Player to watch for shots on goal, goal and/or assist: Nikolaj Ehlers, F, CAR (vs. MIN; 7:00 p.m. ET; FDSNWI, FDSNNO, FDSNSO)
Ehlers scored his first goal as a member of the Hurricanes in his most recent game and tied his season-high with six shots on goal. The eight-time 20-goal scorer is showing signs of turning things around as all five of his points this season have come over his past seven games and has 12 shots on goal over his past three games. Ehlers leads all Carolina forwards in shot attempts (67) this season and his 34 SOG ranks second on the team behind wing Seth Jarvis (44). The Minnesota Wild have allowed the fourth-most goals per game (3.64) and are tied for the fifth-most shots allowed per game (30.4). Per NHL EDGE stats, Ehlers ranks among the leaders at forward in max shot speed (93.63 mph; ninth among forwards), average shot speed (64.70; 95th percentile), midrange SOG (13; 89th percentile), long-range SOG (eight; tied for sixth among forwards), 20-plus mph speed bursts (31; 88th percentile), offensive zone time percentage (42.6; 90th percentile) and offensive zone start percentage (43.0; 94th percentile). -- Meaney
Player to watch for point and/or shots on goal: Luke Evangelista, F, NSH (vs. PHI; 8 p.m. ET; FDSNSO, NBCSP)
The Nashville Predators forward is showing signs of a breakout season; he leads them in assists (seven) this season and is tied with Filip Forsberg for their most power-play points (three). Evangelista, who's playing on the top line and first power play with Forsberg and Ryan O'Reilly, has had multiple shots on goal in four of his past five games (total of 13 in span) and at least three SOG in three of those games. Per NHL EDGE stats, Evangelista ranks in the 97th percentile among forwards in offensive zone time percentage (47.5) and 88th percentile in midrange shots on goal (12). The Philadelphia Flyers have a minus-26 shot differential at 5-on-5 this season (22nd out of 32 teams). -- Pete Jensen
Player to watch for point and/or shots on goal: Jake Sanderson, D, OTT (at BOS; 7 p.m. ET; NESN, TSN5, RDS2)
The Ottawa Senators defenseman ranks among the NHL leaders at the position in points (11; tied for third) and power-play points (six; tied for second) through their first 13 games of the season. Sanderson, who set NHL career highs in goals (11), assists (46) and points (57) last season, leads the Senators in shot attempts (83) and is second in 5-on-5 shot attempts differential (plus-42). Sanderson has six points (two goals, four assists) and 14 shots on goal in his past five games, including a three-assist performance against the Boston Bruins on Oct. 27. Among defensemen this season, Sanderson (45) is second behind only Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders (52) in 20-plus mph speed bursts, per NHL EDGE stats; he also ranks highly at the position in midrange shots on goal (nine; 94th percentile), top shot speed (94.90 mph; 92nd percentile) and total skating distance (45.86; 92nd percentile). -- Troy Perlowitz
Other players to watch for goal and/or shots on goal:
Cole Caufield, F, MTL (at NJD)
Cutter Gauthier, F, ANA (at DAL)
Tage Thompson, F, BUF (vs. STL)
Alex Ovechkin, F, WSH (at PIT)
Drake Batherson, F, OTT (at BOS)
Other players to watch for point:
Juraj Slafkovsky, F, MTL (at NJD)
Troy Terry, F, ANA (at DAL)
Timo Meier, F, NJD (vs. MTL)
Andrei Svechnikov, F, CAR (vs. MIN)
Ryan McLeod, F, BUF (vs. STL)
Other players to watch for multiple points:
Nikita Kucherov, F, TBL (at VGK)
Nick Suzuki, F, MTL (at NJD)
Jack Hughes, F, NJD (vs. MTL)
Mikko Rantanen, F, DAL (vs. ANA)
Kirill Kaprizov, F, MIN (at CAR)
Other players to watch for assist:
Sidney Crosby, F, PIT (vs. WSH)
Wyatt Johnston, F, DAL (vs. ANA)
Leo Carlsson, F, ANA (at DAL)
Trevor Zegras, F, PHI (at NSH)
Brayden Point, F, TBL (at VGK)
Other player to watch for shots on goal:
Seth Jarvis, F, CAR (vs. MIN)
Jason Robertson, F, DAL (vs. ANA)
Adrian Kempe, F, LAK (vs. FLA)
Pavel Dorofeyev, F, VGK (vs. TBL)
Evgeni Malkin, F, PIT (vs. WSH)
Point combos/trios to consider:
DAL: Wyatt Johnston -- Jason Robertson
TBL: Nikita Kucherov -- Brayden Point
MTL: Cole Caufield -- Nick Suzuki
NJD: Jack Hughes -- Jesper Bratt
BUF: Tage Thompson -- Alex Tuch
OTT: Tim Stutzle -- Drake Batherson
ANA: Leo Carlsson -- Troy Terry
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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:
- Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL
- Cole Caufield, F, MTL
- Pavel Dorofeyev, F, VGK
- Cutter Gauthier, F, ANA
- Jack Hughes, F, NJD
Art Ross Trophy and/or 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
- Jake Sanderson, D, OTT
- Thomas Harley, D, DAL
Vezina Trophy:
- Logan Thompson, G, WSH
- Connor Hellebuyck, G, WPG
- Igor Shesterkin, G, NYR
- Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, TBL
Calder Trophy:
- Matthew Schaefer, D, NYI
- Ivan Demidov, F, MTL
- Jakub Dobes, G, MTL
Jack Adams Award:
- Martin St. Louis, MTL
- André Tourigny, UTA
- Joel Quenneville, ANA
Stanley Cup:
- Colorado Avalanche
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Dallas Stars
