Fantasy picks, props with EDGE stats for today
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Top 200 rankings | 100 'F' | 50 'D' | 25 'G'
TUE. APR 8
Player to watch for shots on goal and/or goal: Bryan Rust, F, PIT (vs. CHI)
The Pittsburgh Penguins wing has 59 points in 67 games this season and ranks third on the team in goals (28). Rust is fourth on the Penguins in shots on goal (179) this season and first since Mar. 1 (55). He has 10 points (six goals, four assists) and 31 SOG in his past eight games, and has at least three shots in seven of those games and five in four games. The Chicago Blackhawks have allowed the third-most shots per game (31.3) and goals per game (3.57) this season. Per NHL EDGE stats, Rust is in the 96th percentile in high-danger shots (77), 89th percentile in midrange goals (nine) and 87th percentile in speed bursts over 20 mph (152). -- Chris Meaney
Player to watch for a point: Morgan Geekie, F, BOS (at NJD)
The Boston Bruins forward has 13 points (five goals, eight assists) during a career-high seven-game point streak and has had at least one point in nine of his past 10 games. Geekie also has career highs in goals (29), points (51), shots on goal (140) and ice time (16:55) in 73 games this season. He has 17 goals on the road (compared to 12 at home) and scored a goal in his only game against the New Jersey Devils this season. Per NHL EDGE stats, Geekie is in the 98th percentile in top shot speed (96.77 mph), 91st percentile in average shot speed (63.42 mph) and ranks seventh among forwards in 90-plus mph shots (nine). Geekie also ranks highly in high-danger goals (17; 94th percentile), midrange goals (nine; 89th percentile), midrange shots (61; 89th percentile) and top skating speed (23.02 mph; 84th percentile). -- Meaney
Player to watch for point and/or shots on goal: Artturi Lehkonen, F, COL (vs. VGK)
The Colorado Avalanche wing is tied for second on the team in shots on goal over their past three games (11) and is playing on the top line with elite center Nathan MacKinnon and wing Valeri Nichushkin. Lehkonen is quietly third on the Avalanche in goals (27) this season and tied with MacKinnon for the most game-winning goals among Colorado players who have been with the team all season. Per NHL EDGE stats, Lehkonen ranks in the 95th percentile in both high-danger shots on goal (76) and high-danger goals (18) this season. -- Pete Jensen
Player to watch for a goal and/or point: Anders Lee, F, NYI (at NSH)
The New York Islanders captain and first line wing leads the team in goals (27) and ranks second in points (51); it's the first time he has surpassed the 50-point mark in a season since 2018-19 (51 points in 82 games). Lee has scored 17 of those 27 goals on the road, five more than any of his teammates (frequent linemate Kyle Palmieri ranks second with 12 road goals) and tied for the second-most in a single season of his career (20 in 2017-18). Lee has milestone appeal as his next goal will move him past Pat LaFontaine and Brent Sutter (287 each) for sixth on the all-time list in Islanders history. Per NHL EDGE stats, Lee leads the League in high-danger shots on goal (124) and ranks tied for eighth in high-danger goals (21). The Nashville Predators have lost six straight games and have been outscored 23-10 over that span (since March 27). -- Troy Perlowitz
Player to watch for a point and/or shots on goal: Frank Nazar, F, CHI (at PIT)
The Chicago Blackhawks center leads the team in points (four) and shares the lead in shots on goal (eight; tied with Connor Bedard) in three games since the start of April. Nazar has scored eight of his nine goals (in 48 games) this season at even strength, tied for third on the team since he was called up from the AHL's Rockford IceHogs on Dec. 13, trailing only forwards Ryan Donato and Ilya Mikheyev (15 each). Per NHL EDGE stats, Nazar ranks among the forward leaders in 22-plus mph speed bursts (13; 94th percentile) and average skating distance per 60 (10.14 miles; 89th percentile). The Pittsburgh Penguins lost 3-1 on Sunday in Chicago and have allowed at least three goals in 10 of their past 11 games since Mar. 13. -- Perlowitz
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Others to consider for point separately or together:
Nick Suzuki, F, MTL (vs. DET)
Nico Hischier, F, NJD (vs. BOS)
Mikko Rantanen, F, DAL (vs. VAN)
Sebastian Aho, F, CAR (at BUF)
Drake Batherson, F, OTT (at CBJ)
Others to consider for goal and/or SOG:
Cole Caufield, F, MTL (vs. DET)
Timo Meier, F, NJD (vs. BOS)
Jason Robertson, F, DAL (vs. VAN)
Seth Jarvis, F, CAR (at BUF)
Dylan Guenther, F, UTA (vs. SEA)
Others to consider for assist:
Lane Hutson, D, MTL (vs. DET)
Jake Sanderson, D, OTT (at CBJ)
Roope Hintz, F, DAL (vs. VAN)
Luke Hughes, D, NJD (vs. BOS)
Clayton Keller, UTA (vs. SEA)
Others to consider for SOG separately or together:
Alex DeBrincat, F, DET (at MTL)
Matt Duchene, F, DAL (vs. VAN)
William Nylander, F, TOR (at FLA)
Brendan Gallagher, F, MTL (vs. DET)
Boone Jenner, F, CBJ (vs. OTT)
Line combos to consider:
CAR: Seth Jarvis -- Sebastian Aho -- Jackson Blake
MTL: Cole Caufield -- Nick Suzuki -- Juraj Slafkovsky
DAL: Jason Robertson -- Roope Hintz -- Mikko Rantanen
DET: Alex DeBrincat -- Dylan Larkin -- Patrick Kane
OTT: David Perron -- Dylan Cozens -- Drake Batherson
PIT: Rutger McGroarty -- Sidney Crosby -- Bryan Rust
BOS: Morgan Geekie -- Elias Lindholm -- David Pastrnak
