This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
There has been a lot of rookie talk this year, and not enough of it has been about Matthew Tkachuk. His traditional statistics -- 46 points, 105 PIM and plus-12 rating -- are solid, but his advanced metrics are outstanding.
Among all skaters with at least 60 games this season, Tkachuk's relative Corsi For percentage at five-on-five is ninth in the league. Everyone ahead of the freshman is an established player. Add the on-ice presence Tkachuk brings, and you're looking at a throwback player in the power-forward mold that has become increasingly rare.
With the end of the season in sight, when was the last time a rookie class has made such an immediate impact?
Featured Matchups
Blue Jackets (PP: 9, PK: 8) at Hurricanes (PP: 21, PK: 2), 7:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Sergei Bobrovsky (41-13-5, 1.97, .935), Cam Ward (25-20-11, 2.69, .905)
Key Injuries:Eddie Lack (neck), Ryan Murphy (lower body), Oliver Bjorkstrand (undisclosed), Ryan Murray (hand)
The Hurricanes have collected 20 of a possible 24 points through their past 12 games and are now four points out of a playoff spot. Carolina has the most goals (3.56) and third-most high-danger scoring chances (13.56) per 60 minutes during that 12-game stretch, too. Imagine if there was a competent goaltender residing in Raleigh, N.C.
Columbus is also in strong form with an active 14-4-2 record dating back to mid-February, and during the 20-game stretch, the Blue Jackets have allowed the fewest goals per 60 minutes (1.73) in the league. Bobrovsky has also gone 11-1-2 during that stretch with a .962 save percentage and 1.27 GAA, which has him pacing all netminders in wins (41), save percentage (.935) and GAA (1.97).
Maple Leafs (PP: 2, PK: 9) at Predators (PP: 12, PK: 17), 8:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Frederik Andersen (30-15-14, 2.66, .918), Pekka Rinne (30-17-8, 2.49, .916)
Key Injuries:Mike Fisher (lower body), Frederik Andersen (upper body),Eric Fehr (hand), Josh Leivo (undisclosed), Nikita Soshnikov (undisclosed)
The Predators have won seven of their past nine games, including four straight at Bridgestone Arena. Nashville also allows the second-fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (8.32) at home. Toronto is expected to have Andersen (upper body) back in the crease and enter with an active 8-2-1 record. However, this still stacks up as a difficult matchup for the Maple Leafs.
Since Nashville started with an underwhelming 2-5-1 October, the Preds have posted the fifth-best adjusted Corsi For percentage at five-on-five in the league. They've got a deep and balanced offensive attack in addition to star power, so a deep playoff run could be in store. If they make the dance, the Maple Leafs have upset potential in Round 1, but that might even be a stretch.
Sharks (PP: 24, PK: 18) at Oilers (PP: 5, PK: 15), 9:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Martin Jones (33-20-6, 2.37, .912), Cam Talbot (38-21-8, 2.37, .920)
Key Injuries:Andrew Ference (hip), Tyler Pitlick (knee), Logan Couture (mouth), Micheal Haley (suspension)
The Oilers are heading into the playoffs in impressive fashion and have won seven of their past eight games. Edmonton has averaged 4.25 goals per game while allowing just 1.88, and Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have both hit the scoresheet in each outing for four goals and 14 points and four goals and 15 points, respectively. Somewhat amazingly, during the eight-game stretch, Edmonton sports a 45.85 Corsi For percentage. With such a dire possession rate, it'll be difficult for the Oilers to maintain their current dominance.
San Jose heads into the postseason in the exact opposite form. The Sharks snapped a six-game losing streak last time out and scored just seven goals over those six losses. One significant difference of late is that Brent Burns hasn't registered an even-strength point in the past 10 games. Jones has also been particularly bad recently with an .862 save percentage and 4.04 GAA through his past four outings. A rebound stretch is likely for San Jose, and a date with their potential first-round opponent is a ripe starting point.
Other Matchups
Islanders (PP: 26, PK: 12) at Flyers (PP: 15, PK: 22), 7:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Thomas Greiss (25-18-5, 2.64, .914), Steve Mason (24-21-7, 2.70, .907)
Key Injuries:Johnny Boychuk (lower body), Nikolay Kulemin (upper body), Ryan Strome (wrist), Nick Cousins (upper body), Michael Raffl (lower body)
While consecutive losses have the Islanders' playoff chances in peril, they still have a game in hand and are just four points behind the Bruins. Philadelphia enters with a two-game winning streak and beat Pittsburgh and Ottawa, so the Flyers are far from a push over. The Islanders have been held to a single goal in each of their past two outings, and New York could be in trouble again with Mason sporting a .938 save percentage and 1.62 GAA over his past three games.
Stars (PP: 20, PK: 30) at Bruins (PP: 8, PK: 4), 7:30 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Kari Lehtonen (20-23-7, 2.81, .905), Tuukka Rask (34-20-4, 2.35, .910)
Key Injuries:Tim Schaller (lower body), Jiri Hudler (lower body), Mattias Janmark (knee), Antoine Roussel (hand), Patrick Sharp (hip)
The Bruins hold the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and on paper, they have a favorable matchup against Dallas. The Stars own the second-worst team save percentage (.895) in the league and have allowed the third-most goals per game (3.16). In particular, the Stars have been awful while shorthanded and allowed the most goals per 60 minutes (9.53) while sporting the league's worst penalty-kill percentage (74.0). With just two assists through his past five games, this checks out as a soft matchup for Brad Marchand to post a rebound showing.
Panthers (PP: 25, PK: 1) at Canadiens (PP: 10, PK: 20), 7:30 p.m.
Expected Goalies:James Reimer (16-15-5, 2.60, .917), Carey Price (35-18-5, 2.23, .924)
Key Injuries:Aaron Ekblad (neck), Roberto Luongo (lower body), James Reimer (upper body), Al Montoya (lower body)
This is a bad spot for Florida. The Cats are playing their third road game in four nights and lost the first two to Buffalo and Toronto. The Canadiens are 23-11-5 at home and sport an active 11-3-1 record with just 1.94 goals against per 60 minutes (third lowest in the league). Andrei Markov stands out as an underrated seasonal contributor and underpriced daily target. The veteran has collected two goals, nine points, 22 shots, 14 blocked shots with a plus-9 rating through his past 11 games, after all.
Red Wings (PP: 28, PK: 11) at Lightning (PP: 4, PK: 14), 7:30 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Jimmy Howard (9-9-1, 2.02, .932), Andrei Vasilevskiy (19-16-6, 2.67, .915)
Key Injuries:Andreas Athanasiou (upper body), Jonathan Ericsson (wrist), Luke Glendening (lower body),Ryan Sproul (knee), Ryan Callahan (hip), Jason Garrison (lower body), Tyler Johnson (lower body), Cedric Paquette (lower body), Steven Stamkos (knee)
Steven Stamkos (knee) skated with the No. 2 power-play unit during Wednesday's practice, which is a pretty good sign that he's close to returning. Tampa Bay is just three points out of a playoff spot with a game in hand, so offensive reinforcements wouldn't be a bad thing. Although, with five consecutive multi-point outings for seven goals and four assists, it doesn't appear Nikita Kucherov needs a lot of help. This is obviously a must-win game for the Lightning, and the Red Wings don't project to be a daunting opponent. Detroit is the second-worst club in the Eastern Conference and sport an underwhelming 16-17-6 road record.
Senators (PP: 22, PK: 19) at Wild (PP: 11, PK: 10), 8:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Craig Anderson (22-10-3, 2.30, .927), Alex Stalock
Key Injuries:Zach Parise (upper body), Marc Methot (hand), Chris Neil (finger), Viktor Stalberg (upper body)
The Wild are in a free fall with a 3-10-2 record in March. They've scored just 2.33 goals per game while allowing 3.2, and Dubnyk sports a .889 save percentage and 2.94 GAA. Up front, Nino Niederreiter, Jason Zucker and Charlie Coyle have all faded offensively and combined for just four goals and 12 points through 15 March games. Eventually, the pendulum will swing the other way, and Ottawa has lost six of its past eight games and scored just 12 goals during the stretch. Perhaps this is the bounce-back spot for both Dubnyk and the Wild offense.
Ducks (PP: 23, PK: 5) at Jets (PP: 19, PK: 28), 8:00 p.m.
Expected Goalies:Jonathan Bernier (19-7-3, 2.42, .919), Connor Hellebuyck (24-19-4, 2.94, .905)
Key Injuries:Ryan Getzlaf (lower body), Toby Enstrom (concussion), Shawn Matthias (shoulder), Tyler Myers (lower body), Ondrej Pavelec (knee), Paul Postma (lower body)
The Ducks are rolling along an active 9-1-1 run and have allowed just 1.88 goals per 60 minutes during the stretch. Rickard Rakell continues to impress with 10 goals, 15 points and 48 shots through his past 15 games, and Bernier is locked in with a .946 save percentage and 1.65 GAA over his past 12 outings. Winnipeg is a daunting opponent because of its admirable offense (2.94 goals per game). The Jets also sport the sixth-best high-danger scoring chances percentage (53.98) at home in the league. However, Hellebuyck's underwhelming play (.905 save percentage and 2.94 GAA) has contributed significantly to Winnipeg's third-worst team save percentage (.899). Looking ahead, with league-average goaltending, the Jets could be a quick riser next season.
Recommended Pickup
Elias Lindholm, F, CAR: The Hurricanes have generated the fourth-most high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (12.68) through their past 25 games, and Lindholm has established himself as a reliable scorer over the past few months. He's registered nine goals, 34 points and 92 shots through his past 38 games, and has found the scoresheet in 11 of his past 12 outings. The talent is finally consistently translating into offensive results and strong fantasy production.
