This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
We made it through the first day of the postseason, and it delivered enough unpredictability to remind just how strange the postseason is. It can get Inception weird.
Teams live moment to moment. Marc-Andre Fleury (concussion) skates for days, then, all of a sudden, Jeff Zatkoff is the starter and Tristan Jarry is the backup (because Matt Murray is out too).
Advantage Rangers.
Then Henrik Lundqvist takes a Marc Staal stick to the eye and is out of the game, and we have the Zatkoff v. Antti Raanta duel we all dreamed the Penguins versus the Rangers would be.
Weird.
A couple of thoughts in case you weren't watching last night's action and don't want to be fooled by the box scores.
1. Zatkoff was as good as the numbers say.
I won't go so far as some and say that the Penguins are going to be fine if they don't have Fleury for a while, but Zatkoff made some huge saves. There was a save against Viktor Stalberg that was massive, particularly at that point in the game.
There was also a couple saves at a moment when a goal might have been overturned, but the save were there when the pressure was on. Not a bad postseason debut for Zatkoff.
If he plays again, he would be a very cheap option in net that might not be a disaster.
2. Jonathan Drouin was very good.
The box score doesn't show this and neither do the highlights. Particularly because he had two penalties and was offside on a Victor Hedman goal that was reviewed and overturned.
But Drouin was all over the place. He's still playing like a man possessed and is a good depth roster add. If he plays that same way next game, he should get on the scoresheet. Also, the success of the Triplets Reborn Line (w/ Nikita Kucherov) may draw some attention away from Drouin's line.
Even still, his game wasn't terrible if you rostered him. A couple penalties, three shots, two takeaways, and two hits. He wasn't useless for a depth rostering.
3. Kucherov is still underrated.
It may only be useful knowledge in certain formats, because daily fantasy seems to already know how good he is, but general opinion hasn't caught up.
Kucherov is great.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check our Projected Goalies Grid
Flyers (Steve Mason) at Capitals (Braden Holtby), 7:00 PM
Islanders (Thomas Greiss) at Panthers (Roberto Luongo), 8:00 PM
Wild (Devan Dubnyk) at Stars (Kari Lehtonen), 9:30 PM
Sharks (Martin Jones) at Kings (Jonathan Quick), 10:30 PM
Injury News For Teams Playing Thursday
Philadelphia Flyers
Michael Del Zotto, D (wrist) - isn't going to be suiting up in the postseason
Washington Capitals
Jay Beagle, C (undisclosed) - is expected to suit up in Game 1
New York Islanders
Jaroslav Halak, G (groin) - has been ruled out of the opening round of the playoffs
Mikhail Grabovski, C (concussion) - has stopped skating during his recovery
Travis Hamonic, D (knee) - appears ready to go for Game 1
Jean-Francois Berube, G (lower body) - skated on Wednesday and could be ready to return soon
Brian Strait, D (upper body) - is questionable at best
Anders Lee, C (fractured leg) - will not play again this season
Florida Panthers
Vincent Trocheck, C (ankle) - is considered day-to-day
Steve Kampfer, D (undisclosed) - was seen in a walking boot at the rink on Monday
Willie Mitchell, D (concussion) - remains unlikely to return this season
Dave Bolland, C (lower body) - is on IR
Minnesota Wild
Thomas Vanek, LW (lower body) - will miss at least the first two games of the opening round series
Zach Parise, LW (back) - will also miss the first two games of the opening round
Erik Haula, C (undisclosed) - isn't expected to be available for Game 1
Dallas Stars
Mattias Janmark, C (upper body) - is expected to be available for Game 1
Tyler Seguin, C (Achilles) - will likely be available
Patrik Nemeth, D (illness) - is expected to be available
Brett Ritchie, RW (lower body) - is nearing a return to practice
Devin Shore, C (shoulder) - is done for the year
Alex Goligoski, D (illness) - sat out of practice Tuesday, but could return for Game 1
San Jose Sharks
Matt Tennyson, D (concussion) - is on a conditioning stint
Los Angeles Kings
Marian Gaborik, RW (knee) - is day-to-day
Matt Greene, D (shoulder) - isn't ready to return
Alec Martinez, D (undisclosed) - has been skating with the team
Jordan Nolan, RW (back) - is out indefinitely
Hot
Wayne Simmonds, Right Wing, PHI — Simmonds has secretly been one of the league's best players in the last couple months. He's motivated and streaking, racking up points and penalties like a madman. In the last seven games he has seven goals and two assists. He also has eight penalty minutes, and is averaging 2.3 hits per game and 4.1 shots per game.
Aleksander Barkov, C, FLA — The Cats' top-line center enters the postseason on a nine-game point streak. He has five goals and eight assists in that span. In addition, he has 2.9 shots per game, and is adding a little value with around a half hit and half blocked shot per game. He has great linemates and that's going to help his cause if he's sitting on your roster. Also helping, the Islanders are very banged up. This could be more lopsided than expected.
Cold
Vincent Lecavalier, C, LAK — He had a nice hot streak when he joined the Kings and carried a little depth value. That's all but completely dried up. He's gone six games without a point and has just two points in his last 10 contests. He's also averaging only 1.4 shots per game. There's very little meat on the bone here.
Nino Niederreiter, RW, MIN — Niederreiter had such a great run after John Torchetti took over on the bench. He and Erik Haula were unstoppable, putting up points and also being leaned on for their defensive ability. Now, Niederreiter is without a point in five games and enters Game 1 without Haula, who is injured. Add in that things are getting shuffled quite a bit with Thomas Vanek and Zach Parise not expected in the lineup any time soon, and El Nino is not the play he was a couple weeks back.
Recommended Pickup
Antoine Roussel, LW, DAL — This is a little format dependent, and you've maybe heard this before, but Roussel is an interesting depth value play. He cleaned up his game a little in the second half of the season, which isn't necessarily what you want if you're rostering him. However, by "cleaned up" I mean that his 123 penalty minutes rank sixth in the league instead of at the top. His 123 hits rank second on the team, and unlike many of the top accumulators of penalty minutes, Roussel can contribute offensively. He's not a gold mine of offensive production, but if you're taking a gamble on a cheap player, you're getting value in depth categories with some upside. Also, the intensity of playoff hockey may bring out the worst in him, which could be good for your roster.
