This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
The Flames got some very good news yesterday. Johnny Gaudreau returned to the lineup for Sunday's game against the Ducks.
His return from injury was almost four weeks ahead of the previously announced timeline. He wore a specially designed glove to protect his surgically repaired finger, helping him to get on the ice as soon as possible. Fortunately, he didn't look any worse for the time away. He opened the scoring Sunday, potting the first shot he took since sustaining the injury in a game against the Wild.
The Flames have been on the rise since Chad Johnson ostensibly took over starting duties from Brian Elliott. Johnson has been stealing games for the Flames, but Gaudreau's return sparked the offense. Of the team's young forwards, almost everyone contributed in the 8-3 victory. Gaudreau (1G, 1A), Sean Monahan (1G, 1A), Sam Bennett (1G, 2A), and Matthew Tkachuk (1A) all got on the board.
Featured Matchups
Senators (PP: 28, PK: 9) at Penguins (PP: 12, PK: 26), 7:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Craig Anderson (12-5-1, 2.20, .930), Marc-Andre Fleury (8-5-3, 3.27, .904)
Key Injuries:Marc Methot (lower body), Bobby Ryan (hand), Derrick Pouliot (undisclosed)
When Sidney Crosby is playing as well as he has been, every Penguins game becomes appointment viewing (unless you're bitter about someone that good not being on your favorite team). With 16 goals in 19 games, Crosby is unquestionably the best player in the league this season.
He's been the rising tide that floats everyone's boat in Pittsburgh. Many Penguins are providing solid value right now, with four players registering around a point per game or higher.
Meanwhile, Ottawa continues to defy expectations by winning game after game. Yet, their power play hasn't been particularly good and their 2.24 goals per game rank among the league's worst. Defensively, things are going well (even if it seems unsustainable), but that doesn't necessarily make for great fantasy plays. Their main guys are being their main guys and Craig Anderson has been fantastic, even if he's missed some games to be with his wife who has been diagnosed with cancer.
Nonetheless, the Senators have been good but aren't giving fantasy owners much to chew on. Outside of Anderson and Erik Karlsson (and probably Mike Hoffman, Kyle Turris, and Mark Stone).
Panthers (PP: 27, PK: 10) at Bruins (PP: 23, PK: 3), 7:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Roberto Luongo (9-7-1, 2.04, .929), Tuukka Rask (13-4-1, 1.60, .941)
Key Injuries:Noel Acciari (lower body), Matt Beleskey (lower body), Zdeno Chara (lower body), John-Michael Liles (concussion), Frank Vatrano (foot), Jonathan Huberdeau (lower body), Jonathan Marchessault (undisclosed), Alex Petrovic (ankle)
Both of these teams have been solid defensively and haven't managed to put up goals in bunches. They rank 24th and 25th in the league in goals per game. However, the Bruins are producing a surprising number of opportunities. Their 33.1 shots per game rank second in the NHL. It makes it feel as though they're going to breakthrough with some more goals soon.
Part of those nice numbers is a top line — Brad Marchand-Patrice Bergeron-David Pastrnak — that has easily been one of the most dominant lines in the NHL so far this season but many standards. They're scoring and they're nearly impossible to put one in against.
The numbers aren't as stark for Florida, but their 30.4 shots per game similarly rank much higher than their goals per game. Both teams have offensive talent that should be creating more goals than they are, especially considering that the teams have the 29th and 28th lowest shooting percentage at even strength this season. Those numbers should rise.
However, with both teams sporting a host of injuries and being defensively stalwart, expecting this to be the night they breakthrough or start a shootout might be foolhardy. Expect a tight, low-scoring game. If you have to dig deep down the depth charts for your roster, there are good players here, but their potential might not be maximized in this match-up.
Other Matchups
Sabres (PP: 7, PK: 29) at Capitals (PP: 22, PK: 17), 7:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Robin Lehner (5-8-3, 2.38, .922), Braden Holtby (10-6-2, 2.16, .922)
Key Injuries:Zach Bogosian (knee), Nicolas Deslauriers (knee), Tyler Ennis (groin), Taylor Fedun (undisclosed), Josh Gorges (foot), Dmitry Kulikov (back), T.J. Oshie (shoulder)
With news Sunday that the Sabres have lost Gorges to injury, their blue line is looking thinner than the plot of a Rambo movie. They're without Bogosian, Gorges, Kulikov, and likely Fedun. The relatively healthy Capitals and their high-powered offense have a real chance to light up the Sabres, who rank 27th in shots against per game. Their goals against per game isn't as grim, but that means they're leaning on goaltending to save their bacon.
With talents like Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom on the ice and the Sabres owning the league's 29th best penalty kill, there's a fair chance the Caps are able to open this up on home ice.
Coyotes (PP: 25, PK: 20) at Blue Jackets (PP: 1, PK: 15), 7:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Mike Smith (4-2-3, 2.64, .930), Sergei Bobrovsky (13-5-2, 2.08, .929)
Key Injuries:Brad Richardson (leg), Dalton Prout (back)
The Coyotes continue to struggle. In almost every metric available, they rank poorly. Meanwhile, Columbus continues to impress and offer players down the lineup who are providing lots of value for fantasy rosters.
This game is interesting because the inter-conference foes are facing each other for the second time in three days. When they met on Saturday it took a shootout to settle things, but the Blue Jackets truly dominated play. They fired a franchise record 60 shots on net and forced Mike Smith to make a franchise-record 58 saves.
That doesn't predict any particular way that this will go, but a team as hot as the Blue Jackets can definitely run roughshod all over a young, struggling club like Arizona.
Recommended Pickup
Alexander Wennberg, C, CBJ — The 22-year-old forward looks like he's going to have a career year. His previous high-water marks are eight goals and 41 points. In just 23 games, Wennberg has six goals and 21 points. He's putting up nearly a point per game and with how well Columbus is playing (even if they cool off some) he's become a quality fantasy play.
