SAT. DEC. 14
Player to watch for point and/or shots on goal: Macklin Celebrini, F, SJS (vs. UTA)
The San Jose Sharks center is tied for second among NHL rookies in points (19 in 20 games) and ranks second in his class in points per game (0.95) behind Philadelphia Flyers forward Matvei Michkov (0.96; 27 in 28 games). Celebrini is tied with Michkov in even-strength points (15) despite playing eight fewer games and leads rookies in even-strength goals (eight). In Celebrini’s most-recent game, he had three points (two goals, one on power play, one assist) and six shots on goal playing on a line with newly acquired wing and fellow rookie Nikolai Kovalenko (three assists) and wing Tyler Toffoli (one goal). Celebrini has had at least a point in nine of his past 13 games (seven goals, eight assists in span). The 18-year-old has had at least three SOG in 15 of his 20 games this season (leads rookies with 3.35 SOG per game) and at least four SOG in four of his past five games. Per NHL EDGE stats, Celebrini’s 34 midrange SOG rank in the 96th percentile. -- Chris Meaney
Player to watch for point and/or SOG: Max Pacioretty, F, TOR (at DET)
The Toronto Maple Leafs wing had two goals, three points, three shots on goal and played a season-high 18:32 against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. Pacioretty only has four goals and nine points in 16 games and is averaging a career-low 12:57 but has played on a line with high-scoring center John Tavares (25 points in 28 games) and wing William Nylander (29 points in 29 games) over his past two games. The Detroit Red Wings have allowed 3.17 goals per game (tied for 10th-most) and 31.1 SOG per game (fifth-most). Per NHL EDGE stats, Pacioretty ranks among the leaders in even-strength offensive zone time percentage (44.2; 93rd percentile). -- Meaney
Player to watch for point and/or SOG: Rickard Rakell, F, PIT (at OTT)
The Pittsburgh Penguins wing leads them with 13 goals and has scored six in his past eight games (10 points over span). Rakell has six points, three on the power play, and 11 shots on goal over his past three games and has had at least three SOG in five of his past seven games. He continues to skate on the top line with elite center Sidney Crosby (30 points in 31 games) and wing Bryan Rust (seven goals, 12 points in past eight games); the trio combined for five goals and 11 points against the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday. Per NHL EDGE stats, Rakell ranks among the leaders in high-danger SOG (30; 96th percentile) and high-danger goals (nine; 97th percentile). -- Meaney
Player to watch for goal and/or point: Gabriel Vilardi, F, WPG (vs. MTL)
The Winnipeg Jets wing has 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists) in 31 games this season, including three goals and five points in his past five games. Vilardi is averaging a career-high 18:35 in his second season with the Jets and has played mostly on the top line with wing Kyle Connor (36 points in 31 games) and center Mark Scheifele (34 points in 31 games); Connor and Scheifele are tied for eighth in the NHL in goals (16). Vilardi has four goals and 11 points in 14 home games (compared to 11 points in 17 road games) and is averaging more ice time (18:58) and shots on goal per game (2.0) at home than on the road (18:16; 1.7). The Canadiens allowed nine goals against the Penguins on Thursday and are allowing the second-most goals (3.72) and eighth-most SOG (30.0) per game. Per NHL EDGE stats, Vilardi ranks in the 94th percentile in high-danger SOG (29), and his 10 high-danger goals are tied for the fifth most in the League. -- Meaney
Player to watch for point and/or SOG: Kent Johnson, F, CBJ (vs. ANA)
The Columbus Blue Jackets forward has 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) in 15 games this season, including a three-game point streak (three goals, five points in span). Johnson is one point away from matching his total from last season (16 points in 42 games) and only seven goals away from tying his personal best from his rookie season (had 16 goals, 40 points in 79 games in 2022-23). Johnson only played 13:33 per game last season but is averaging a career-high 17:44 this season and has taken on an even bigger role with 18:17 per game in seven games this month (four goals, six points in span). The Blue Jackets are tied for seventh in goals per game (3.31) and fifth in shots on goal per game (30.5). The Anaheim Ducks, meanwhile, have allowed a League-high 32.9 SOG per game and have the seventh-worst penalty kill percentage (73.1). Johnson has five power-play points this season, and, per NHL EDGE stats, his power-play offensive zone time percentage (64.7) ranks in the 95th percentile. -- Meaney
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Others to consider for goal and/or SOG:
Kyle Connor, F, WPG (vs. MTL)
Josh Norris, F, OTT (vs. PIT)
Jake Guentzel, F, TB (at SEA)
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Others to consider for point:
Nikolai Kovalenko, F, SJS (vs. UTA)
Jake DeBrusk, F, VAN (vs. BOS)
Sam Bennett, F, FLA (at CGY)
