NHL PROPS TO WATCH 🎯
Player to watch for point, shots on goal and/or goal: James Hagens, F, BOS (at PIT; 7 p.m. ET; SN-PIT, NESN, SNO, SNE, TVAS)
The Boston Bruins forward leads all rookies in points (12 in 16 games; third on team), even-strength points (11), even-strength goals (six) and is tied for second in assists (six) this season, despite ranking 26th in ice time (13:26 per game; minimum four games played). Hagens, who has three points (two goals, one assist) during a three-game point streak and six points (four goals, two assists) in his past seven games, scored a goal on three shots on goal and had a career-high 17:27 time on ice in his most recent game. The 20-year-old has found chemistry on the third line with Elias Lindholm (13 points; second on team) and Casey Mittelstadt (six points in past seven games) this season. Per NHL EDGE stats, five of Hagen’s six goals this season have come from the high-danger zone, which ranks in the 97th percentile among forwards. The Pittsburgh Penguins are 3-8-2 in their last 13 games and have allowed the eighth-most goals per game (3.54) over that span. -- Chris Meaney
Player to watch for point, shots on goal and/or goal: Dylan Guenther, F, UTA (at MTL; 7 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN2, Utah16, Mammoth+)
The Utah Mammoth forward has 11 points (six goals, five assists), eight power-play points, five power-play goals (tied for sixth in NHL; second on team) and leads them in both shots on goal (45) and shot attempts (111; tied for eighth in NHL) in 16 games this season. Guenther, who is playing on the third line with Nick Schmaltz (17 points; tied for third on team) and first power play with Clayton Keller (21 points; leads team), Mikhail Sergachev (19 points; second), Logan Cooley (nine points in past seven games) and Schmaltz, had NHL career highs in points (73 in 79 games), goals (40) and shots on goal (242) last season. Per NHL EDGE stats, Guenther ranks highly among forwards in average shot speed (65.48 mph; 96th percentile) this season and is tied for seventh in the entire NHL in 80-90 mph shot attempts (20) and tied for sixth in 70-80 mph shot attempts (31). The 23-year-old also ranks among the forward leaders in long-range goals (two; tied for first), long-range shots on goal (nine; tied for third), mid-range shots on goal (15; 93rd percentile) and offensive zone time percentage (47.6; 96th percentile). The Mammoth lead the NHL in power-play goals (20) this season and have the second-best power play percentage (36.4). The Montreal Canadiens, meanwhile, rank second in the League in times shorthanded per game (4.00). -- Meaney
