This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
We spend a lot of time looking for value in unexpected places and identifying trends in The Daily Puck. That doesn't always allow space to recognize the players who have been steady and consistent all year. Two of those guys hit some milestones in their season last night.
Patrick Kane posted his 40th goal of the season. It's, incredibly, his first-ever 40-goal campaign. In fact, his previous career-high was 30 goals, set back in the 2009-10 season.
That was the year he hit a career-high 88 points, another mark he's already passed. Four games from the end of the season and he's four points from 100.
Elsewhere, Alex Ovechkin was hitting milestones of his own. He was helping the Caps deal a crushing blow to the Avs playoff hopes.
The goal was his 45th of the season.
In his 10 non-lockout seasons, Ovechkin has hit at least 45 goals eight times. In an era where goals don't come easy, Ovechkin's feat is amazing.
Onward, toward Saturday's games.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check our Projected Goalies Grid
Penguins (Marc-Andre Fleury) at Islanders (Thomas Greiss), 1:00 PM
Senators (Craig Anderson) at Flyers (Steve Mason), 1:00 PM
Stars (Antti Niemi) at Kings (Jonathan Quick), 4:00 PM
Red Wings (Petr Mrazek) at Maple Leafs (Garret Sparks), 7:00 PM
Devils (Cory Schneider) at Lightning (Ben Bishop), 7:00 PM
Canadiens (Mike Condon) at Panthers (Roberto Luongo), 7:00 PM
Sabres (Chad Johnson) at Rangers (Henrik Lundqvist), 7:00 PM
Blue Jackets (Joonas Korpisalo) at Hurricanes (Cam Ward), 7:00 PM
Sharks (Martin Jones) at Predators (Pekka Rinne), 8:00 PM
Flames (Joni Ortio) at Oilers (Cam Talbot), 10:00 PM
Capitals (Philipp Grubauer) at Coyotes (Mike Smith), 10:00 PM
Injury News For Teams Playing Saturday
Pittsburgh Penguins
Evgeni Malkin, C (upper body) - is still on IR
Kevin Porter, C (ankle) - is also on IR
Brian Dumoulin, D (upper body) - is day-to-day
Olli Maatta, D (lower body) - remains out and considered week-to-week
Scott Wilson, LW (lower body) - is on IR
Bryan Rust, RW (lower body) - is on day-to-day after Tuesday's injury
New York Islanders
Adam Pelech, D (upper body) - resumed practicing, though has not definite date for return
Travis Hamonic, D (lower body) - is out for the remainder of the season
Jaroslav Halak, G (groin) - is out for the remainder of the season
Mikhail Grabovski, C (upper body) - has resumed skating, but doesn't have a return date set
Ottawa Senators
Chris Phillips, D (back) - won't play against this season
Dion Phaneuf, D (lower body) - is out for the season
Clarke MacArthur, LW (concussion) - is also done for the season
Patrick Wiercioch, D (upper body) - is unlikely to play again this season
Mark Stone, RW (upper body) - has been ruled out of Saturday's game
Mark Borowiecki, D (knee) - remains out
Kyle Turris, C (ankle) - is out indefinitely
Mike Kostka, D (undisclosed) - didn't play Thursday
Philadelphia Flyers
Michael Del Zotto, D (wrist) - is done for the year
Michal Neuvirth, G (knee) - won't play again during the regular season
Dallas Stars
Kris Russell, D (lower body) - isn't traveling with the team on their current road trip
Jason Demers, D (shoulder) - remains out
Tyler Seguin, C (Achilles) - remains out
Brett Ritchie, RW (lower body) - is not traveling with the team on their current road trip
Los Angeles Kings
Jordan Nolan, RW (back) - is out indefinitely
Marian Gaborik, RW (knee) - may not return during the regular season
Kris Versteeg, RW (foot) - is day-to-day and didn't play Thursday
Matt Greene, D (shoulder) - is out for the year
Detroit Red Wings
Drew Miller, LW (lower body) - isn't going to be on the ice again this season
Johan Franzen, RW (concussion) - is unlikely to play again this year
Toronto Maple Leafs
Stephane Robidas, D (knee) - will probably not play at all this season
James van Riemsdyk, LW (foot) - is done for the year
Peter Holland, C (concussion) - is out
Leo Komarov, LW (lower body) - is unlikely to play Saturday
Viktor Loov, D (undisclosed) - is questionable Saturday
Nikita Soshnikov, LW (upper body) - hasn't had his timeline updated
Raffi Torres, LW (knee) - has been shut down for the year
Joffrey Lupul, LW (abdomen) - is shelved for the remainder of the season
Milan Michalek, LW (undisclosed) - is questionable for Saturday's tilt
Matt Hunwick, D (hernia) - surgery will keep him out for the remainder of the year
New Jersey Devils
Patrik Elias, LW (knee) - could grab a game or two before the end of the season, but it won't begin on Saturday
Michael Cammalleri, LW (hand) - is sidelined for the season
Jordin Tootoo, RW (upper body) - is done for the year
Jiri Tlusty, LW (wrist) - won't play again this year
David Schlemko, D (upper body) - is supposed to return Saturday
Jacob Josefson, C (wrist) - is expected to return Saturday
Jon Merrill, D (upper body) - is done for the year
Tampa Bay Lightning
Anton Stralman, D (fractured fibula) - won't play again during the regular season
Montreal Canadiens
Carey Price, G (leg) - could return this season
Jeff Petry, D (lower body) - is out for the year
Tom Gilbert, D (knee) - won't be back on the ice before the end of the season
P.K. Subban, D (neck) - isn't expected to be back in the lineup Saturday
Mark Barberio, D (concussion) - is out indefinitely
Victor Bartley, D (lower body) - remains day-to-day
Nathan Beaulieu, D (thumb) - is done for the season
Lucas Lessio, LW (undisclosed) - is questionable for Saturday's game
Brian Flynn, C (lower body) - is done for the year
Daniel Carr, LW (knee) - is questionable for Saturday
Florida Panthers
Willie Mitchell, D (concussion) - may not play again in his career
Jiri Hudler, RW (groin) - is questionable
Dave Bolland, C (lower body) - remains on IR
Vincent Trocheck, C (ankle) - is out for a few weeks
Buffalo Sabres
Cody Franson, D (concussion) - hasn't returned to practice
Tyler Ennis, LW (concussion) - hasn't ruled out a return this season, but it won't be Saturday
Evander Kane, LW (upper body) - is done for the year
Robin Lehner, G (ankle) - had surgery and won't hit the ice again this year
Columbus Blue Jackets
Fedor Tyutin, D (undisclosed) - is somewhere "between day-to-day and week-to-week" says coach Tortorella
Jack Johnson, D (shoulder) - is out for the season
David Clarkson, RW (lower body) - remains out
Curtis McElhinney, G (knee) - is done, following surgery
Ryan Murray, D (undisclosed) - is "banged up" and questionable for Saturday's game
Carolina Hurricanes
Phil Di Giuseppe, LW (upper body) - hasn't had his status updated for Saturday's game
Riley Nash, C (undisclosed) - is out Saturday
Andrej Nestrasil, C (back) - is out for the year
James Wisniewski, D (knee) - has skated, but won't return Saturday
San Jose Sharks
Marc-Edouard Vlasic, D (lower body) - has yet to return to the ice
Matthew Nieto, LW (hand) - remains out
Matt Tennyson, D (concussion) - hasn't yet been cleared for contract
Nashville Predators
Anthony Bitetto, D (lower body) - missed Thursday's game
Ryan Ellis, D (upper body) - is questionable
Calgary Flames
Dennis Wideman, D (tricep) - is sidelined for the year
Michael Frolik, LW (lower body) - is expected to miss another couple games
Ladislav Smid, D (upper body) - is on IR
Karri Ramo, G (ACL) - won't be back in game action this season
Edmonton Oilers
Benoit Pouliot, LW (shoulder) - may be out for the year
Brandon Davidson, D (lower body) - is out long-term
Adam Pardy, D (hand) - is likely to return Saturday
Eric Gryba, D (knee) - practiced Monday
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C (concussion) - is making progress, but won't play Saturday
Oscar Klefbom, D (infection) - won't hit the ice again this season
Andrew Ference, D (hip) - is out for the year
Washington Capitals
Nicklas Backstrom, C (upper body) - didn't play Friday
Arizona Coyotes
Michael Stone, D (lower body) - won't play again this year
Joe Vitale, C (concussion) - won't play again this season
Oliver Ekman-Larsson, D (illness) - is day-to-day
Anders Lindback, G (Achilles) - remains on IR
Jarred Tinordi, D (suspension) - continues to serve his 20-game suspension
Martin Hanzal, C (upper body) - was injured in Thursday's game
Hot
Jaromir Jagr, RW, FLA — The NHL's favorite success story has been on a tear recently. Jagr has a goal and six points over the last four games. It's just the assists you're getting in the end. He's not shooting in volume, so goals aren't likely to come at a more rapid pace. He's also not adding blocked shots or hits, so there isn't much value outside the points.
Brent Burns, D, SJS — His unbelievable season won't stop. He enters Saturday's game on a five-game point streak, averaging over five shots per game in that run. His amazing shot volume and points should be enough to convince anyone of his value, but he's doing it across categories. In that run he's played at least 22:59 each game, adding four hits and seven blocked shots.
Cold
Nick Bjugstad, C, FLA — After a 24-goal, 43-point performance last year, Bjugstad just isn't putting up points this year. He has 13 goals and 30 points in 62 matches. After a four-game point streak recently, he's gone quiet again. Over the last five matches he has no goals and an assist. On the upside he has five hits in the four games, and though he'd been pushed down to the third line, the injury of Vincent Trocheck has put Bjugstad back on the second line with Jussi Jokinen and Reilly Smith. His value could rise.
Andrei Markov, D, MTL — Markov is one of a handful of Habs who aren't creating offense like they have in the past. He has one goal in the last 20 games and one point in his last seven contests. Despite some massive minutes with P.K. Subban, Jeff Petry, Nathan Beaulieu, Tom Gilbert, Mark Barberio and Victor Bartley all out of the lineup with injuries on the blue line.
Recommended Pickup
Riley Sheahan, C, DET — Sheahan has tied a career-high with 13 goals, aided in part by a nice run recently. He's on a three-game point streak, as well as having four goals and six points over the last five games. He also have four hits, a plus-4 rating, a blocked shot and nine shots in that span. He's adding value in a depth roles.
