This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Friday features a modest three-game slate, but all three project to be very interesting. Columbus has stood out on special teams, and will be looking to put the league on notice by handing Montreal its first regulation loss. Meanwhile, the Jets and Coyotes both face the unenviable task of playing the second game of a back-to-back on the road against the Red Wings and Ducks, respectively. Below is the breakdown of what to expect from the players on these six teams, both in these specific matchups and moving forward.
Featured Matchups
Canadiens (PP:[15], PK:[2]) at Blue Jackets (PP:[1], PK:[6]), 7:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Al Montoya (3-0-1, 1.47, .955), Sergei Bobrovsky (4-3-1, 2.02, .941)
Key Injuries:David Clarkson (back)
This projects to be a low-scoring goaltending duel, with both netminders ranking among the top 10 in both save percentage and GAA. Columbus has been arguably the best special teams unit in the league, while Montreal has excelled in all phases en route to a 9-0-1 start. Plenty of Canadiens are off to strong starts, but David Desharnais stands out as an under-the-radar option that already has four points and a plus-10 rating. Fellow defenseman Shea Weber has been incredible after coming over from the Predators in the offseason, and leads the team with 10 points and a plus-14 rating. Zach Werenski has brought plenty of unexpected offense with eight points from the Columbus blue line, but this particular matchup doesn't play to his strengths.
Jets (PP:[25], PK:[20]) at Red Wings (PP:[16], PK:[14]), 7:30 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Connor Hellebuyck (2-3-0, 2.63, .914), Petr Mrazek (4-3-1, 3.07, .908)
Key Injuries:Johan Franzen (concussion), Tomas Jurco (back), Niklas Kronwall (knee), Thomas Vanek (lower body), Joe Vitale (concussion), Bryan Little (lower body), Tyler Myers (lower body), Drew Stafford (upper body)
This seems like a great matchup for the Red Wings, but a closer inspection shows that an injured Detroit team could struggle against the improving Hellebuyck. Darren Helm hasn't been as effective without Vanek on his wing, and first-liners Frans Nielsen and Dylan Larkin both sport matching minus-7 ratings. While Detroit will rely on Gustav Nyquist and defenseman Mike Green for much of its offense, Hellebuyck won't make things easy after holding opponents to four goals on 79 shots over his last three appearances. Winnipeg will be glad to see an opponent other than the Capitals after coming up short on consecutive late comeback attempts against them. Adam Lowry has scored in consecutive games, while the team's top line features its three leading point-getters in Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers and Blake Wheeler.
ucCoyotes (PP:[27], PK:[25]) at Ducks (PP:[19], PK:[13]), 10:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Justin Peters (0-1-0, 3.23, .914), Jonathan Bernier (0-1-0, 2.73, .929)
Key Injuries:Ryan Getzlaf (upper body), Hampus Lindholm (personal), Nick Ritchie (undisclosed), Dave Bolland (back), Martin Hanzal (lower body), Tobias Rieder (lower body), Mike Smith (lower body), Michael Stone (upper body)
Arizona has won three of its last four while holding opponents to a season-low two goals in each of its last two games. Brad Richardson leads the Coyotes with eight points, while defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson already has five goals and an even rating despite the team's early struggles. The Ducks will look to get their underachieving power play going against the suspect Coyotes penalty kill. Don't blame Cam Fowler for their lack of success with the man advantage, as six of his eight points have come on the power play. He heads a talented group that's due to break out after leading the league in power-play effectiveness last season.
Recommended Pickup
Michael Grabner, NYR - It seems like everyone on the Rangers is worth a pickup given how often they've been putting the puck in the net, but Grabner's history suggests his success is sustainable. While he fell off the map over the past two seasons, the speedy Austrian has scored as many as 34 goals back in 2010-11. Grabner is finally back on a fast-paced team that complements his skillset, and he has proven that his skills still very much exist with four goals, five points and a plus-7 rating over his last three games.
