SAT. OCT. 11
Player to watch for point and/or multiple shots on goal: Elias Lindholm, F, BOS (vs. BUF; 7 p.m. ET; NESN, MSG-B)
Through two games this season, Lindholm has three points (two goals, one assist), two power-play points, one game-winning goal, eight shots on goal and 11 shot attempts. Lindholm had 11 points in his final 11 games last season while playing on Boston’s top line with elite wing David Pastrnak and wing Morgan Geekie, and the trio has combined four goals, nine points and 16 shots on goal this season. The Buffalo Sabres allowed four goals in their first game and were tied for the third-most goals allowed per game (3.50) last season. Per NHL EDGE stats, Lindholm is tied for second in the NHL in high-danger goals (two) and ranks in the 95th percentile among forwards in high-danger shots (three). — Chris Meaney
Player to watch for goal, point and/or multiple shots on goal: Zack Bolduc, F, MTL (at CHI; 7 p.m. ET; CHSN, NHLN, SNE, CITY, TVAS)
Bolduc is tied for the team-lead in goals (two), tied for second in shots on goal (seven) and is tied for third in shot attempts (10) in his first two games with Montreal. Bolduc, who is playing on the first power-play unit with the Canadiens, led all rookies in goals (13 in 26 games) and power-play goals (six) after the 4 Nations Face-Off last season. Per NHL EDGE stats, the Canadiens are tied for third in high-danger shots (15), tied for fourth in midrange SOG (16) and tied for second in midrange goals (three) this season. Bolduc, who has one of Montreal’s three midrange goals, is tied for fourth in the entire NHL in high-danger SOG (four), ranks seventh among forwards in max shot speed (87.82 mph) and is in the 91st percentile at his position in offensive zone time percentage (49.3). — Meaney
Player to watch for assist and/or point: Marco Rossi, F, MIN (vs. CBJ; 8 p.m. ET; FDSNWI, FDSNNO, FDSNOH)
The center, who signed a three-year contract to remain with the Minnesota Wild this offseason, had a strong season opener with two points (one goal, one assist) and two shots on goal against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday. Rossi is playing on the top line with high-scoring wings Kirill Kaprizov (three assists in opener) and Matt Boldy (one goal, two assists) and also the second power play with Ryan Hartman (two goals). Per NHL EDGE stats, Rossi scored a high-danger goal in the opener and ranks highly in even-strength offensive zone time percentage (47.7; 92nd percentile). Rossi, who had NHL career highs in goals (24), assists (36), points (60) and power-play points (16) last season, has scored two goals on 10 shots on goal in four career games against the Columbus Blue Jackets. — Pete Jensen
Player to watch for goal, point and/or multiple shots on goal: Brad Marchand, F, FLA (vs. OTT; 7 p.m. ET; SCRIPPS, SN1)
The Florida Panthers wing has scored one goal on 10 shots on goal over their first two games of the season. Marchand is playing on a new-look top line with wing Carter Verhaeghe (one goal on seven shots on goal this season) and center Sam Bennett (no goals on six shots on goal; won Conn Smythe Trophy last season as Florida repeated as Stanley Cup champions). Marchand was one of six 20-point producers for the Panthers during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs (had 10 goals, 10 assists in 23 games) and is taking on an expanded role with long-term injuries to Aleksander Barkov (likely out for season) and Matthew Tkachuk (out until at least December). Per NHL EDGE stats, Marchand is tied for third in the NHL in midrange shots on goal (four; behind Kirill Marchenko’s six, Mika Zibanejad’s five) this season. The Ottawa Senators won their season opener at the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday, but goalie Linus Ullmark, Marchand’s former teammate with the Boston Bruins, allowed four goals on 25 shots faced. — Jensen
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Others to watch for goal and/or shots on goal:
-Matt Boldy, F, MIN (vs. CBJ)
-William Nylander, F, TOR (at DET)
-Dylan Guenther, F, UTA (at NSH)
-Macklin Celebrini, F, SJS (vs. ANA)
-Beckett Sennecke, F, ANA (at SJS)
Others to watch for point or multiple points:
-Kirill Kaprizov, F, MIN (vs. CBJ)
-Jack Eichel, F, VGK (at SEA)
-Connor McDavid, F, EDM (vs. VAN)
-Nikita Kucherov, F, TBL (vs. NJD)
-Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL (vs. DAL)
Others to watch for assist and/or point:
-Lane Hutson, D, MTL (at CHI)
-Sebastian Aho, F, CAR (vs. PHI)
-Mikko Rantanen, F, DAL (at COL)
-Morgan Geekie, F, BOS (vs. BUF)
-Jackson LaCombe, D, ANA (at SJS)
Others to watch for multiple shots on goal:
-Pavel Dorofeyev, F, VGK (at SEA)
-Rickard Rakell, F, PIT (vs. NYR)
-Juraj Slafkovsky, F, MTL (at CHI)
-Mika Zibanejad, F, NYR (at PIT)
-Cutter Gauthier, F, ANA (at SJS)
Point combos/trios to consider:
MTL: Cole Caufield – Nick Suzuki
VGK: Jack Eichel – Mitch Marner
TOR: William Nylander – John Tavares
MIN: Kirill Kaprizov – Marco Rossi – Matt Boldy
CAR: Nikolaj Ehlers – Sebastian Aho – Seth Jarvis
TBL: Jake Guentzel – Brayden Point – Nikita Kucherov
BOS: Morgan Geekie – Elias Lindholm – David Pastrnak
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FUTURES WATCH
NOTE: The following are candidates, either front-runners or sleepers, for various 2026 NHL Awards and milestones.
Rocket Richard:
-Connor McDavid, F, EDM
-Tage Thompson, F, BUF
-Jake Guentzel, F, TBL
-Cole Caufield, F, MTL
-Matt Boldy, F, MIN
Art Ross:
-Nathan MacKinnon, F, COL
-Jack Eichel, F, VGK
-Mikko Rantanen, F, DAL
-Kirill Kaprizov, F, MIN
-Nick Suzuki, F, MTL
Hart:
-Jack Eichel, F, VGK
-Mikko Rantanen, F, DAL
-Kirill Kaprizov, F, MIN
-Cale Makar, D, COL
-Nick Suzuki, F, MTL
Norris:
-Lane Hutson, D, MTL
-Thomas Harley, D, DAL
-Shea Theodore, D, VGK
-Jake Sanderson, D, OTT
-Roman Josi, D, NSH
Vezina:
-Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, TBL
-Logan Thompson, G, WSH
-Anthony Stolarz, G, TOR
-Mackenzie Blackwood, G, COL
-Adin Hill, G, VGK
Calder:
-Ivan Demidov, F, MTL
-Jimmy Snuggerud, F, STL
-Sam Rinzel, D, CHI
-Zeev Buium, D, MIN
-Matthew Schaefer, D, NYI
40 goals:
-Cole Caufield, F, MTL
-Jason Robertson, F, DAL
-Matt Boldy, F, MIN
-Dylan Guenther, F, UTA
-Adrian Kempe, F, LAK
Stanley Cup:
-Colorado Avalanche
-Tampa Bay Lightning
-Dallas Stars
-Vegas Golden Knights
