FRI. DEC. 20
Player to watch for goal and/or shots on goal: William Nylander, F, TOR (at BUF)
The Toronto Maple Leafs wing has 33 points (20 goals, 13 assists) in 32 games this season and is riding a 10-game point streak (five goals, seven assists) entering Friday. Nylander scored 40 goals in each of his past two seasons and is on pace to set a new career high; he has a team-high 20 goals (tied for fourth in NHL) and 111 shots on goal (at least four SOG in four of his past six games) this season. Nylander scored two goals to extend his point streak to four games (three goals, two assists) in his most-recent game and played on a line with center Auston Matthews (22 points in 23 games) and wing Mitch Marner, who leads Toronto in points (42 in 32 games). It was just the second time since 2020 where all three players started a game as a line trio; they combined for four points in a 5-3 win at the Dallas Stars. The Buffalo Sabres have an 11-game winless streak (0-8-3), allowing at least four goals in six of their past eight games. Per NHL EDGE stats, Nylander ranks among the leaders in high-danger SOG (31; 93rd percentile), high-danger goals (10; 97th percentile), midrange SOG (36; 95th percentile), midrange goals (5; 92nd percentile) and top shot speed (93.82 mph; 96th percentile). -- Chris Meaney
Player to watch for point and/or SOG: Lucas Raymond, F, DET (vs. MTL)
The Detroit Red Wings forward leads them with 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists) in 31 games and has been dominant at home (seven goals, 20 points in 16 games). Raymond has had at least one point in 12 of his past 14 games (11 goals, six assists in span), 20 of his past 25 games (13 goals, 16 assists in span) and has nine multipoint games over that second span. He hasn’t had consecutive games without a point since Oct. 22-24. The Montreal Canadiens have allowed the eighth-most shots on goal per game (29.6) and second-most goals per game (3.65). Per NHL EDGE stats, Raymond is tied for the most midrange goals (10), and Montreal Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault has faced the ninth-most midrange shots (178). -- Meaney
Player to watch for power-play point and/or assist: Lane Hutson, D, MTL (at DET)
The Montreal Canadiens defenseman is third among NHL rookies in points (22 in 31 games; one goal, 21 assists) and has 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) in his past 10 games. Hutson leads rookies in assists (21), average ice time (22:39) and is second in power-play points (nine). The 20-year-old has five power-play points in his past seven games since Patrik Laine (six power-play goals) returned to the lineup, and the Canadiens have the ninth-ranked power play (26.1 percent) over that span (Dec. 3). The Detroit Red Wings have the second-worst penalty kill percentage (67.9) and are tied for the most power-play goals allowed (27). They’ve allowed the fifth-most shots on goal per game (30.5) and ninth-most goals per game (3.16). Per NHL EDGE stats, Hutson ranks among the leaders in 20-22 mph speed bursts (43; 96th percentile) and power-play offensive zone time percentage (63.5; 95th percentile). -- Meaney
Player to watch for point: Marco Rossi, F, MIN (vs. UTA)
The Minnesota Wild forward set NHL career-highs in goals (21), assists (19), points (40), power-play points (six) and average ice time (16:44) last season and is on pace to surpass those marks this season. Rossi has 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists) in 32 games, including six power-play points (three goals, three assists). He’s averaging 17:30 per game and 20:10 in eight games in December (five goals, two assists). Rossi has had at least one point in seven of his past 10 games, including a goal against the Utah Hockey Club on Dec. 10, when he played 23:07 in a 5-4 win. He continues to skate on a line with elite wing Kirill Kaprizov, who is tied for fourth in the NHL in points (48 in 31 games), and wing Mats Zuccarello, who has three points in three games since returning to the lineup. Per NHL EDGE stats, Rossi ranks among the leaders in high-danger goals (nine; 96th percentile). -- Meaney
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Others to consider for goal and/or SOG:
Cole Caufield, F, MTL (at DET)
Matthew Tkachuk, F, FLA (vs. STL)
Valeri Nichushkin, F, COL (at ANA)
Others to consider for point:
Artturi Lehkonen, F, COL (at ANA)
Robert Thomas, F, STL (at FLA)
Dylan Guenther, F, UTA (at MIN)
Others to consider for SOG:
Patrik Laine, F, MTL (at DET)
Alex DeBrincat, F, DET (vs. MTL)
Wyatt Johnston, F, DAL (vs. NYR)
