This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
There was a lot of bonus hockey to be had Sunday with three of the league's six contests going an extra frame. The hockey deities must have seen the spare slate Monday and decided the multitudes could use a few extra minutes of glory.
The day gave us Patrik Laine's first shootout goal, which was fantastic. Patrick Kane put together an incredible highlight in Al Montoya's first game back since he allowed 10 goals against Columbus. And, for those who love seeing prospects succeed, Troy Stecher and Gustav Forsling notched their first career goals.
It was a fun night of games that was a good lead into a slower Monday that will feature two of the league's premier players in John Tavares and Steven Stamkos.
Featured Matchups
Lightning (PP: 4, PK: 8) at Islanders (PP: 26, PK: 25), 7:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Ben Bishop (5-5-0, 2.93, .903), Jaroslav Halak (3-4-3, 3.00, .907)
Key Injuries:Mikhail Grabovski (concussion), Travis Hamonic (arm), Ryan Pulock (lower body), Dennis Seidenberg (jaw), Jonathan Drouin (head), Anton Stralman (undisclosed)
On paper, this is a lopsided match between one of the NHL's best teams and a team that has struggled to pull it together in the early going. The Islanders have had a tough time figuring out what kind of team they are this year. Unfortunately, with the holes they have on defense right now, it's tough to figure that out. Hamonic, Seidenberg, and Pulock are all out, meaning that the team is dressing their eighth and ninth defensemen against an offensively potent Lightning squad that rolls three dangerous lines.
The situation leaves open the possibility that the Lightning feast in this game. Working against them, Halak has been decent this season and Tampa is on the road. But almost every statistical falls in Tampa's favor. A good power play against an ailing penalty kill. A good penalty kill against an impotent power play. And they definitely have fewer significant injuries holding them back. Though the absence of Stralman, one of the league's most underrated defenders, is significant.
But though Bishop is arguably the better goaltender at large, he hasn't had as much success as Halak this year and that could keep things interesting. There's absolutely the talent in Brooklyn to make it a shootout and to provide roster-able fantasy players at both ends of the ice.
The key may be that you're looking at New York's top guys in this match-up and willing to go a little further down the depth chart with Tampa.
Recommended Pickup
Valtteri Filppula, C, TBL — There aren't many secret gems on either roster. Filppula might be as close as it gets. Between his age and being down on the third line with Ryan Callahan, who can't pull it together this season, he's a bit hidden. However, with nine points in 15 games, he's averaging over a half point per game and that's pretty good value for a third-line skater. He sees a only a bit of power play time and isn't a volume shooter, but there's the potential for some points out of a cheap and/or available player with him.
