WED. NOV. 20
Player to watch for goal: Matt Duchene, F, DAL (vs. SJS)
The Dallas Stars forward has the best points-per-game average of his NHL career (1.24) this season and leads them in goals (10; tied for 15th in League entering Tuesday), points (21 in 17 games), even-strength goals (eight) and is tied with linemate Tyler Seguin for their most power-play goals (two). Duchene, who has scored goals in three of his past four games, has been playing on a red-hot line with wings Mason Marchment (four-game point streak; four goals, six assists in span) and Seguin (four-game point streak; one goal, four assists in span). The San Jose Sharks are allowing the second-most shots on goal per game (33.6) entering Tuesday, and, per NHL EDGE stats, Duchene ranks in the 92nd percentile in high-danger goals (five) this season. -- Pete Jensen
Player to watch for point: William Eklund, F, SJS (at DAL)
The Sharks wing has six points (two goals, four assists) during a season-high four-game point streak since Nov. 11 playing on the top line at even strength with center Mikael Granlund and wing Fabian Zetterlund, a unit that has scored three times at 5-on-5 over that stretch. Eklund also ranks second on the Sharks in power-play shot attempts (20) behind only Granlund (26). The No. 7 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft has yet to score a goal on the road this season but leads San Jose with nine assists in 10 such games (tied for seventh League-wide in category entering Tuesday). Per NHL EDGE stats, Eklund excels in 20-plus mile per hour speed bursts (40; 86th percentile) and max shot speed (93.69 mph; 96th percentile). The Stars are coming off a 4-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks at home Monday and needed a shootout to defeat the Sharks earlier this season; Eklund was held without a point in that game but co-led San Jose with four shots on goal. -- Troy Perlowitz
Player to watch for shots on goal: Pavel Dorofeyev, F, VGK (at TOR)
The Vegas Golden Knights forward leads them in goals (nine; tied for 19th in NHL entering Tuesday) and shots on goal (54) and has seen upticks in points per game (0.67) and shots on goal (3.0) per game through 18 games compared to last season (0.51 points per game; 2.0 SOG per game in 47 games). Dorofeyev has also seen a boost in ice time from last season (13:17) to this season (15:58) and played a career-high 20:59 in his most-recent game. Dorofeyev was promoted to the top line, where he brings exposure to elite playmaker Jack Eichel, on Sunday and had five shots on goal; it was Dorofeyev’s third game in his past four with at least four SOG. He’s had at least three shots on goal in 10 of his past 14 games. Per NHL EDGE stats, Dorofeyev is among the League's best in midrange shots on goal (23; 96th percentile), and his offensive zone time percentage at even strength (40.3) should continue to grow with Mark Stone on the injured list. -- Chris Meaney
