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NHL.com identifies players to watch in fantasy hockey and props with EDGE stats insights for upcoming games during the 2024-25 season. For more coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy.
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Player to watch for point: Zack Bolduc, F, STL (at NSH)
The St. Louis Blues rookie wing has 30 points (15 goals, 15 assists) in 63 games this season and 15 points (10 goals, five assists) in his past 19 games. Bolduc has a four-game point streak (three goals, one assist) and has had at least one point in 11 of his past 15 games. Bolduc is playing on the first line at 5-on-5 and first power-play unit (four power-play points in his past eight games) with center Robert Thomas who ranks second in the NHL in points since the 4 Nations Face-Off (23 in 17 games). Bolduc leads all rookies in goals (seven) and is tied for first in points (10) in 13 games in March. The Blues lead the NHL in wins (13), points percentage (.824) and goals per game (4.06) since the 4 Nations break (Feb. 22). They’ve scored at least four goals in each of their seven straight wins and have outscored their opponents 34-10 over that span, which includes two 4-1 victories against the Nashville Predators. Per NHL EDGE stats, Bolduc is in the 79th percentile in speed bursts over 20 mph (115), 89th percentile in average skating distance per 60 minutes (10.16 miles) and 84th percentile in average shot speed (61.42 mph). — Chris Meaney
Player to watch for point and/or shots on goal: Bryan Rust F, PIT (at BUF)
The Pittsburgh Penguins wing has 55 points in 62 games this season and ranks second on the team in goals (26). Rust has had at least 20 goals in six straight seasons and is two goals and three points away from matching his career highs. He enters Thursday’s game in Buffalo on a three-game goal streak had has six points (four goals, two assists) over that span. Since his return to the lineup on Feb. 25, Rust has 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 14 games. His center Sidney Crosby leads all players in the NHL in 5-on-5 points this season (52) and his wing Rickard Rakell ranks second in 5-on-5 goals (23). The Buffalo Sabres have allowed the fourth-most goals per game (3.50) this season and since the 4 Nations Face-Off (3.81). Per NHL EDGE stats, Rust is in the 95th percentile in high-danger shots (69), 90th percentile in midrange goals (nine) and 88th percentile in speed bursts over 20 mph (144). — Meaney
Player to watch for point and/or SOG: JJ Peterka, F, BUF (vs. PIT)
The Buffalo Sabres wing has points in four straight games (three goals, one assist during span) since returning to the lineup following a three-game absence with a lower-body injury. Peterka has 23 points (12 goals, 11 assists) in his past 21 games played and a career-high 55 points (22 goals, 33 assists) in 65 games this season. Peterka, who has reclaimed a spot on the Sabres top power play, has found chemistry in the past two games on a line with center Ryan McLeod and wing Jack Quinn as that trio has outscored opponents 3-1 when on the ice together at 5-on-5. In two games against the Pittsburgh Penguins this season, Peterka has two goals, 13 shot attempts and six shots on goal. Per NHL EDGE stats, Peterka ranks highly at his position in average shot speed (65.08 mph; 95th percentile) and midrange shots on goal (58; 90th percentile). The Penguins, who have been outshot in each of their past nine games (minus-95 SOG differential during span), are winless in three of their past four (1-2-1) and have allowed the second-most goal per game (3.58) this season. — Troy Perlowitz
Player to watch for goal and/or point: Brendan Gallagher, F, MTL (at PHI)
The Montreal Canadiens wing has five points (two goals, three assists) in his past four games after going nine straight games without a point prior to this stretch. Gallagher is tied for third on the team with 17 goals, his most in a single season since 2019-20 (22 in 59 games), while 11 of his 13 assists have come at even strength. Gallagher has spent all 13 of his NHL seasons with the Canadiens and has milestone appeal as he climbs the all-time lists for games played (822; 20th) and goals scored (235; tied for 16th) with the franchise. Gallagher has 14 goals in 30 career games against the Philadelphia Flyers, his third most against a single opponent trailing only the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres (18 each). Per NHL EDGE stats, Gallagher ranks highly in high-danger shots on goal (52; 85th percentile) and high-danger goals (11; 82nd percentile). The Flyers, who have lost 11 of their past 12 games (1-10-1), allowed at least seven goals in consecutive games for only their second time in the past 30 seasons (other: Dec. 5-6, 2021). — Perlowitz
Player to watch for point and/or SOG: Trevor Moore, F, LAK (at COL)
The Los Angeles Kings forward has 15 shots goal over his past four games and, dating back to March 17, leads them in SOG per game (3.75). Moore, who currently has points in three straight games played (two goals, one assist), is playing on a strong third line with center Phillip Danault and wing Warren Foegele (20 goals this season; third on Kings), who has nine straight games with multiple shots on goal (23 in span). Per NHL EDGE stats, Moore ranks among the forward leaders in long-range shots on goal (22; 94th percentile). Moore also plays on the second power play with those forward linemates plus Quinton Byfield and defenseman Brandt Clarke, and the Colorado Avalanche have the ninth-worst penalty kill percentage in March (72.0). — Pete Jensen
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Others to consider for point separately or together:
John Tavares, F, TOR (at SJS)
Brayden Point, F, TBL (vs. UTA)
Nick Suzuki, F, MTL (at PHI)
Dylan Holloway, F, STL (at NSH)
Roope Hintz, F, DAL (at CGY)
Others to consider for goal and/or SOG:
Jordan Kyrou, F, STL (at NSH)
William Nylander, F, TOR (at SJS)
Cole Caufield, F, MTL (at PHI)
Jason Robertson, F, DAL (at CGY)
Matvei Michkov, F, CGY (vs. MTL)
Others to consider for assist:
Sidney Crosby, F, PIT (at BUF)
Robert Thomas, F, STL (at NSH)
Thomas Harley, D, DAL (at CGY)
Lane Hutson, D, MTL (at PHI)
Jake Sanderson, D, OTT (at DET)
Others to consider for SOG separately or together:
Brady Tkachuk, F, OTT (at DET)
Auston Matthews, F, TOR (at SJS)
Juraj Slafkovsky, F, MTL (at PHI)
Alex DeBrincat, F, DET (vs. OTT)
Dylan Guenther, F, UTA (at TBL)
Line combos to consider:
TOR: Bobby McMann — John Tavares — William Nylander
TBL: Jake Guentzel — Brayden Point — Nikita Kucherov
STL: Dylan Holloway — Brayden Schenn — Jordan Kyrou
PIT: Rickard Rakell — Sidney Crosby — Bryan Rust
DAL: Jason Robertson — Roope Hintz — Mikko Rantanen
MTL: Cole Caufield — Nick Suzuki — Juraj Slafkovsky
OTT: David Perron — Dylan Cozens — Drake Batherson
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More: NHL EDGE Puck & Player Tracking Statistics

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