The Golden Knights' games originally scheduled for Jan. 28, Feb. 1, and Feb. 3 (which also involve the Blues and Sharks) were postponed after Vegas experienced a COVID-19 outbreak. Three coaches were forced to isolate and star defenseman Alex Pietrangelo landed on the league's COVID-19 protocol list as a result.
The other three contests were presumably moved to accommodate the new dates for the first three.
Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said Monday the team had four days of exclusively negative tests. Those who tested positive are now doing well, and he expects the team will be able resume playing as planned against the Los Angeles Kings on Friday and Sunday.
Every Monday, theScore offers a weekly fantasy hockey column detailing a handful of moves you should make. This edition focuses on Week 3. Roster percentages and position eligibility are courtesy of Yahoo.
Sell high on Brock Boeser
Team: Canucks Position: RW Rostered: 92%
Boeser is off to a red-hot start, as he sits tied with Connor McDavid for the league lead in goals with eight. However, the Vancouver Canucks winger is converting at an unsustainable 26.7% clip - the second-highest shooting percentage in the league among players with at least 20 shots.
Additionally, Boeser's 2.73 shots per game and 0.37 individual expected goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five are both the lowest of his career. He's likely due for regression at some point, even though snipers of his ilk can occasionally outperform their underlying numbers for a full season - he's always had the ability to play at a 40-goal pace.
Nonetheless, it wouldn't hurt to dangle Boeser on the trade market and see what you can get. That doesn't mean you should absolutely trade him, but if someone offers a player like Brady Tkachuk - even in a non-hits league - it would be worth pulling the trigger.
Add Vincent Trocheck
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Team: Hurricanes Position: C Rostered: 33%
Trocheck has been exceptional, registering four goals, two assists, 19 shots, and 11 hits in six games. He also ranks seventh in the league among qualified skaters in individual expected goals per 60 minutes, signaling his start hasn't been a fluke.
The 27-year-old has played at this pace before. He tallied 31 goals and 75 points in 2017-18, but until now, he hadn't returned to that form. Though he was plagued by injuries, poor puck luck, and a lack of opportunity in each of the last two seasons, he appears to be back. His line with Nino Niederreiter and Martin Necas has been sensational, and Trocheck is also on the team's No. 1 power-play unit.
No team has played fewer games than the Carolina Hurricanes so far this season, which bodes well for Trocheck's season-long outlook.
Drop Kyle Palmieri
Team: Devils Position: RW Rostered: 63%
Palmieri is currently unavailable to play due to COVID-19 protocol. If you have an IR spot open, you can use it on Palmieri. Otherwise, don't hesitate to drop the veteran winger.
The 30-year-old is off to a rough start to the season with zero goals and three assists through eight contests. His proven track record and underlying numbers suggest he's due for a turnaround at some point, but it's difficult to have patience in such a short season, especially with many other options available.
Add Chris Driedger
Jamie Sabau / National Hockey League / Getty
Team: Panthers Position: G Rostered: 24%
For the second straight season, Driedger is vastly outplaying his teammate Sergei Bobrovsky. The numbers tell the story:
Stat
Driedger
Bobrovsky
GP
3
3
GAA
1.95
2.87
SV%
.937
.894
GSAA
3.05
-0.90
The Florida Panthers have played a pretty easy schedule so far, as four of their six games were against the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings - two of the worst teams in the league.
However, given Bobrovsky's struggles last season, Driedger needs to be picked up. At the very least, he's playing himself into a 50/50 platoon - and potentially more. Bobrovsky managers can still hang on to him, but adding Driedger for insurance is a good idea.
Add Alex Killorn
Team: Lightning Position: LW/RW Rostered: 29%
Killorn isn't an exciting fantasy commodity and his season-long potential is rather low, but he's a good streaming option this week.
The NHL schedule is once again heavily weighted on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, so finding players who play on small-slate days is crucial. The Tampa Bay Lightning are in action Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this week. Four games would be ideal, but two of their contests are against the Red Wings. You could then drop Killorn on Saturday and add a new player for your weekend push.
Killorn has four points, 16 shots, and eight hits in six games this season. He also plays on the Lightning's second line and top power-play unit.
Victor Mete will get a chance to showcase himself to the Montreal Canadiens and the rest of the league on Monday night.
The disgruntled defenseman will make his season debut against the Vancouver Canucks, head coach Claude Julien announced. Mete will draw in for Brett Kulak.
Mete reportedly requested a trade, with his agent Darren Ferris citing a lack of opportunity.
However, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin shot down the rumors and said the team isn't trading him.
Mete has been a healthy scratch in each of the team's first eight games this season. The emergence of rookie Alexander Romanov and the offseason addition of veteran Joel Edmundson pushed Mete down the depth chart.
The 5-foot-9 blue-liner already has 171 games of NHL experience despite being just 22 years old. He's collected 31 career points while averaging 16:37 of ice time per contest.
Mete has registered strong underlying numbers, posting a five-on-five expected goals share of at least 53.5% in each of his three campaigns, according to Natural Stat Trick.
MacKinnon played the first two periods of Sunday's contest and didn't come out for the third. It's unclear when the forward suffered the injury.
"I haven't even talked to the trainers yet. I just know he wasn't able to go for the third period," head coach Jared Bednar said postgame, according to the Denver Post's Mike Chambers.
The 25-year-old had 15:24 of ice time through two periods and registered two assists.
MacKinnon has amassed two goals and 12 assists through 10 games this season, including Sunday's contest.
Defense was optional during the first period of Sunday night's clash in Edmonton, as the Oilers and Ottawa Senators combined for eight goals in the opening 20 minutes.
The Oilers wasted no time finding the back of the net. Forward Dominik Kahun scorched Matt Murray eight seconds into the contest.
Kahun's lightning-quick tally tied Wayne Gretzky's franchise record for the fastest goal to open a game, according to Sportsnet Stats.
Edmonton added two more tallies by the 7:20 mark of the frame. James Neal tapped home his first of the season before defenseman Tyson Barrie buried a power-play bomb to register his first goal with his new club and chase Murray.
Neal added another before Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored to stretch Edmonton's lead to 5-1 through 13 minutes. It was the second-fastest five-goal outburst in Oilers history, missing the franchise record by four seconds. Superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl both registered three assists.
The Sens refused to go away quietly, though, as Brady Tkachuk and Drake Batherson scored to head into the intermission down 5-3.
