This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Day 3 of the NHL season features only three games, but there's no shortage of storylines to cover. This slate includes two division rivalries, an interconference matchup, a pair of 2015-16 playoff teams making their 2016-17 debuts, a veteran team adjusting to the loss of its superstar, and a rematch of an exciting showdown that took place just two days ago. What more could you ask for out of one day of hockey?
It's important to pay extra attention early on, because this is the time of year that waiver wires are littered with guys who will be unquestioned fantasy contributors by season's end. Identifying those players will give you a leg up on the competition both now and in the future, but it would be unwise to completely forego the short term in search of long-term advantages.
All three of the below games are littered with fantasy-friendly situations that can be mined for value, and could easily have made it into the Featured Matchups section on any given day. The lack of other NHL action on the schedule Friday just makes the tough decision of which games to focus on that much easier.
Featured Matchups
Blackhawks (PP:[N/A], PK:[N/A]) at Predators (PP:[N/A], PK:[N/A]), 8:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Corey Crawford (35-18-5, 2.37, .924), Pekka Rinne (34-21-10, 2.48, .908)
Key Injuries:Andrew Desjardins (lower body), Viktor Arvidsson (upper body)
Chicago will be looking to rebound from Wednesday's season-opening home loss to the Blues, while the Predators will be playing their first game of 2016-17. While the Blackhawks were thoroughly outplayed in their Opening Night defeat, there were some positive takeaways for youngsters who have been thrust into important roles on their stars-and-scrubs style roster. Richard Panik skated on the first line and lit the lamp with the man advantage, while third-line right wing Ryan Hartman potted his first NHL goal. Panik's combination of role and ability makes him the more appealing of the two long-term, but neither should be discounted on a team looking for players to step up alongside its established veterans.Kevin Fiala is a man to watch for the Predators, as the 11th pick in the 2014 draft will be skating on the top line with Filip Forsberg and Ryan Johansen after putting up 50 points in 66 AHL games last season. You probably aren't going to bench Pekka Rinne in his season debut, but it's hard to feel good about playing him after the Blackhawks tagged him for 10 goals on 108 shots while beating him three times in their last four meetings.
Oilers (PP:[N/A], PK:[N/A]) at Flames (PP:[N/A], PK:[N/A]), 9:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Cam Talbot (21-27-5, 2.55, .917), Brian Elliott (23-8-6, 2.07, .93)
Key Injuries:Ladislav Smid (neck), Brandon Davidson (undisclosed), Andrew Ference (hip), Iiro Pakarinen (leg)
This game is a rematch of Edmonton's 7-4 win on Wednesday, but Calgary will be playing host this time. Talbot will be looking to improve to 2-0 on the young season after making 37 saves in that game, while Elliott should be avoided after surrendering six goals on just 27 shots -- not an auspicious start to his task of improving the Flames' netminding. Connor McDavid should be well worth his high price in DFS after scoring twice and adding an assist against this same opponent last time out, while linemates Jordan Eberle and Milan Lucic will continue to benefit from skating on the same line as the youngest captain in NHL history. Calgary's Johnny Gaudreau went a team-worst minus-3 in the opener, but should be able to rebound at home
Flyers (PP:[N/A], PK:[N/A]) at Kings (PP:[N/A], PK:[N/A]), 10:30 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Steve Mason (23-19-10, 2.51, .918), Jeff Zatkoff (4-7-1, 2.79, .917)
Key Injuries:Marian Gaborik (foot), Tanner Pearson (suspension), Jonathan Quick (lower body), Mark Alt (upper body), Michael Del Zotto (lower body), Radko Gudas (suspension), Scott Laughton (knee), Brandon Manning (shoulder), Brayden Schenn (suspension)
This is the first game of the season for the Flyers, whose chances of starting off on the right foot got a major boost when Kings netminder Jonathan Quick went down with a lower-body injury while stretching to make a save in the season-opening loss to San Jose on Wednesday. Zatkoff will thus be thrust into the starting role after coming over from the Penguins in the offseason, and his career 2.64 GAA and .915 save percentage at the NHL level suggest he should be able to hold down the fort. Still, there's value to be found on a Flyers team that will be short a few regular contributors due to injury and suspension. Most notably,Michael Raffl will skate on the top line with Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds, while rookie Travis Konecny will take Brayden Schenn's spot on the second line while Schenn begins to serve a three-game suspension for an illegal check he committed in the playoffs. The 19-year-old Konecny brings major scoring upside after piling up 101 points in 60 OHL games last season, then three goals and three assists in six games this preseason. Mason makes for a solid DFS play in net despite his struggles last postseason, as the Kings scored only once in their opener and are employing a first-line left wing (Devin Setoguchi) who hasn't registered a point since the 2013-14 campaign.
Recommended Pickup
Travis Konecny, LW, PHI -- As mentioned, Konecny is opening on the second line during Schenn's suspension, but the rookie's usefulness should extend far beyond that three-game stretch.The 2015 first-rounder is expected to spend the entire season in Philadelphia, and he should see power-play time from the get-go while also getting aided by an offensive-minded defense corps regardless of his linemates. He still needs to grow in the defensive zone, but should find himself on the scoresheet early and often.
