FRI. DEC. 13
Player to watch for point and/or shots on goal: Drake Batherson, F, OTT (at CAR)
The Ottawa Senators wing has 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists) in 28 games this season after a hat trick (three goals, four points) in his most-recent game. Batherson had NHL career highs in goals (28) and points (66) last season and is on pace to surpass both totals; he has at least one point in 10 of his past 11 games (five goals, 11 assists) and 14 of his past 16 (20 points, 12 on power play, in span). Batherson has been playing on the top line and first power-play unit with wing Brady Tkachuk (31 points in 28 games) and center Josh Norris (four points in past four games). Per NHL EDGE stats, Batherson ranks among the leaders in top shot speed (94.61 mph; 96th percentile). -- Chris Meaney
Player to watch for goal and/or SOG: Andrei Svechnikov, F, CAR (vs. OTT)
The Carolina Hurricanes wing has 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 28 games this season, including three goals and six points in his past three games. Svechnikov has been more consistent at home (six goals, 14 points in 14 games) this season compared to on the road (five goals and 10 points in 14 games). He leads Carolina with 93 shots on goal and has at least three SOG in seven of his past 10 games (14 SOG in past three games). Svechnikov has at least one point in seven of his past eight games against the Senators (three goals, six assists). Per NHL EDGE stats, Svechnikov’s 34 high-danger shots on goal rank in the 97th percentile, his 14 long-range SOG rank in the 98th percentile, and his offensive zone time percentage (50.8) ranks third in the League behind his center Sebastian Aho (51.4) and other power-play linemate in defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (52.9). -- Meaney
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Others to consider for a point:
Shayne Gostisbehere, D, CAR (vs. OTT)
Josh Norris, F, OTT (at CAR)
