3 days agoNew Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes got the better of Kaapo Kakko and the Rangers in a meeting between the top two picks of this year's draft. The No. 1 overall pick registered his first NHL point on the team's game-winning goal, which was scored by Miles Wood in the second frame. Hughes has had a tough time at the start of his career, but the whole team has struggled, so he hasn't been the only Devil to disappoint. He should improve weekly as the season progresses. The team's current six-game homestand offers a good opportunity to pick up momentum.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 days agoNew Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood had a solid 29-save outing on Thursday, helping the team record its first win of the season in a matchup against the Rangers. The Devils had a nice offensive outbreak in the 5-2 win, but Blackwood played an important role as well, especially in the second period where he saves all 15 Rangers attempts. Blackwood now has a 1-1-2 record for the season with a 4.06 goals-against average and a .857 save percentage. His numbers are awful, but they should start to improve now that the team has regained some confidence with the first win.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 days agoNew Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban scored his first goal for his new team on Thursday, capping off the scoring in a 5-2 win over the Rangers. It was an empty-netter in the final minute, but hey, they still all count. Blake Coleman, Kyle Palmieri, Miles Wood, and Nikita Gusev also scored for the Devils, who finally picked up their first win of the season. It's been a poor start by the team and Subban has struggled as well, but there's a chance to pick up momentum now. Subban has three points, eight hits, 14 penalty minutes, 19 shots and a plus-one rating through seven games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 days agoBoston Bruins center David Krejci (upper body) will not suit up for Thursday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Krejci was forced to leave Monday's game against the Anaheim Ducks due to the injury. In his absence, Charlie Coyle will center the second line alongside Jake DeBrusk and Brett Ritchie. Coyle has one assist through six games this season, but he is worthy of some consideration as a budget option in DFS formats on Thursday.
--Raymond Harrison - RotoBallerSource: Boston Bruins
4 days agoPhiladelphia Flyers right wing Jakub Voracek recorded his first points of the season on Wednesday, finishing a 6-3 loss to Edmonton with two goals -- both on the power play -- and one assist. Claude Giroux had two assists, while Oskar Lindblom joined Voracek among the Flyers goal-scorers. Voracek also doubled his shots amount in one game, firing out seven shots. He didn't have a single shot on goal in the last game against Calgary, so it looks like he was very eager to get going again. Despite blanking in the opening four games, Voracek still finds himself sharing the fourth spot on the team's scoring list.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 days agoEdmonton Oilers forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl combined for eight points in Wednesday's 6-3 win over Philadelphia. Draisaitl opened the scoring and finished with two goals and one assist, while McDavid tallied the team's third goal and had a career-high four assists. He became the second player in franchise history to record 17-plus points through the team's first seven games of a season. Wayne Gretzky did it five times. Ethan Bear, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Brandon Manning also scored for the Oilers, who struck twice on the power play. The team is currently converting its power-play chances at an incredible 45.5 percent rate. McDavid has already nine power-play points.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 days agoDallas Stars center Joe Pavelski netted his first goal in the team's colors on Wednesday, beating the buzzer in the third to finish the scoring in a 3-2 loss to Columbus. With multiple 30-goal seasons under his belt, Pavelski signed a big 21 million, three-year deal with the Stars on July 1 but he's struggled so far, tallying just two points and 12 shots on goal through eight games. He averaged 2.5 shots per game last season on his way to a 38-goal year. It's still early in the season and he can turn it around, but the Stars have been performing very poorly so far, especially on the power play. They have scored just once with 24 power-play opportunities.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
4 days agoColumbus Blue Jackets goaltender Joonas Korpisalo came up big once again for the team on Wednesday, stopping 30 of 32 shots in a 3-2 win over Dallas. Zach Werenski, Alexander Wennberg and Sonny Milano took care of the goals. Korpisalo has now won both of his last two starts and three of his last four, to improve his record for the season to 3-2-0. He carries a 2.60 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage. The Jackets are allowing just 29 shots per game, which has been a big help for Korpisalo, who is looking to fill the boots of Vezina winner Sergei Bobrovsky.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoDallas Stars right-winger Corey Perry (foot) will be in the lineup for the first time this season as his team takes on the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday. After suffering a small fracture in his foot just two days prior to training camp, the 34-year-old missed all of the preseason as well as the Stars' first seven games of the campaign. Perry is looking to prove that he can still be relied upon as a top-six forward in today's NHL after getting bought out by the Ducks in the offseason. The former MVP will make his Stars debut featured on the second line alongside center Roope Hintz on Wednesday.
--Chase Davis - RotoBallerSource: Sean Shapiro
5 days agoWinnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele deposited his fourth goal of the season and added an assist as his team came up short by the score of 4-2 to the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday. The 26-year-old skated 22:51 (including 7:17 on the man advantage) and also recorded two penalty minutes, five shots and one takeaway in the contest. Having now registered at least one point in seven of his first eight games, Scheifele's big performance moved him into a tie as the NHL scoring leader with 12 points (four goals, eight assists). While it's still early, the Ontario native is proving yet again that he's one of the game's elite scorers and looks primed for another top-20 finish in points in 2019-2020. Forming one of the NHL's best duos with winger Blake Wheeler, Scheifele should once again be considered a lineup lock moving forward.
--Chase Davis - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
5 days agoArizona Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper continued his excellent start to the 2019-2020 campaign on Tuesday, registering his second victory in a 4-2 defeat of the Winnipeg Jets. The 29-year-old turned aside 38 of 40 shots faced in the contest, including all but one of 16 opposing shots in the final frame to secure the win. Kuemper has taken advantage of a preseason injury to fellow goaltender Antti Raanta and has seemingly grabbed the reigns to the Coyotes starting netminder role for the time-being. With a 1.52 goals-against average and a .955 save percentage through four starts, Kuemper continues to raise his fantasy value in all formats. Considering how quickly his ownership is climbing (now 69% owned in Yahoo! leagues), fantasy owners seeking goaltending help need to jump on the Saskatoon native before it's too late.
--Chase Davis - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
5 days agoArizona Coyotes forward Nick Schmaltz posted a goal and added a pair of assists as his team picked up a 4-2 road win against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. The 23-year-old filled up the scoresheet in this one, also contributing a plus-two rating, two penalty minutes and a shot on goal in just 12:13 of ice time in the contest. Limited to just 40 games last season due to a knee injury, Schmaltz is off to a fast start in his first full season in Arizona - sitting at a point-per-game (three goals, two assists). Lining up on the Coyotes' second line and top power-play unit, the former University of North Dakota product is a player to keep an eye on throughout the first month of the season. Schmaltz (20% owned in Yahoo! leagues) may not offer much in terms of peripheral stats (just 10 shots and two hits through five games) but could offer significant fantasy value as a top point producer out in the desert.
--Chase Davis - RotoBallerSource: NHL.com
5 days agoCarolina Hurricanes center Martin Necas scored the game-winning goal in Tuesday's matchup against the Kings, extending his point streak to four games in the process. Sebastian Aho was also on target in the 2-0 win. Necas is a third-liner who actually doesn't play much, averaging 14:14 on the ice per game, but he's on the first power-play unit that is clicking at 21 percent at the start of the season. The third line has done great so far, with Erik Haula scoring a team-high five goals and Ryan Dzingel notching six points. Both had assists on Necas' goal on Tuesday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoCarolina Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek stopped all 31 shots in Tuesday's 2-0 win over the Kings, notching his 19th career shutout and keeping his record for the season at a perfect 4-0-0. The former Red Wing has been in great form, posting a 1.94 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. Mrazek can blow hot and cold, but he also has a very good team to back him up. Carolina improved to 6-1-0 in L.A., which marks the best seven-game start to a season in franchise history. They are a top-10 side in goals per game (3.57), so Mrazek has a chance to tally wins even he himself ends up having a poor day at the office.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
5 days agoCalgary Flames center Elias Lindholm kept his scoring form going on Tuesday against Philadelphia, producing his fourth goal of the season in a 3-1 win. Michael Frolik and Andrew Mangiapane also scored for the Flames, while Matt Niskanen tallied Philly's lone goal. David Rittich faced only 22 shots in Calgary's crease. Lindholm has been more of a pass-first center throughout his career, but he did score 27 goals last season, and he looks capable of becoming a 30-goal scorer. The 24-year-old Swede has been very busy in front of goal so far this season, registering 21 shots. He has five points in total and a plus-two rating.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
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