OCTOBER 16, 2023 • HOCKEYBUZZ.COM
HockeyBuzz.com - Ben Shelley - Sharks fall to Avs in shootout but Mackenzie Blackwood steals the show NHL Hockey Trade Rumors
Nathan MacKinnon - Unable to buy goal Saturday MacKinnon registered a game-high 14 shots on goal but failed to record a point in Saturday's 2-1 shootout win over the Sharks.
Impact MacKinnon wasn't able to convert in the shootout, either, as goalie MacKenzie Blackwood stood on his head in his Sharks debut. However, shots on goal is a common category in fantasy hockey, particularly for DFS formats, serving as a reminder that elite skaters like MacKinnon can still get it done even without a goal or apple on the scoreboard.
OCTOBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Logan O'Connor - Skating on fourth line O'Connor had one shot, one hit and one blocked shot over 12:02 of ice time in Saturday's 2-1 shootout win over San Jose.
Impact O'Connor skated on the fourth line for a second consecutive game to start the season. He's coming off year in which he had career highs in goals (nine) and TOI (14:12). O'Connor's served as a jackknife of sorts the last two seasons, but it's preferred his three-zone game is plied on the fourth line.
OCTOBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Samuel Girard - No role on power play Girard had three shots on goal, two blocked shots and one hit over 20:35 of ice time in Saturday's 2-1 shootout win over the Sharks.
Impact Girard skated on the second pair once again and was part of the penalty kill unit that prevented the Sharks from scoring on four chances. He did not, however, skate on the power play for a second straight game. Girard's been deployed on the power play -- usually the second unit -- in all six seasons with Colorado. His usage on the man-advantage unit greatly enhanced his fantasy value; 33 percent (58 of 178) of Girard's points with the Avalanche have come on the power play.
OCTOBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Artturi Lehkonen - Fires eight shots in win Lehkonen recorded eight shots on goal and one hit over 18:32 of ice time in Saturday's 2-1 shootout win over San Jose.
Impact Eight shots on most nights would lead a team, but Nathan MacKinnon sent 14 shots toward Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, who stopped 51 of 52 shots. Four of Lehkonen's eight shots came in the third period when Colorado was desperate to beat Blackwood. He was part of the offensive thrust late in the game when Cale Makar tied the game with the goalie pulled. Lehkonen has yet to hit the scoresheet, but the second-line winger has 11 shots through two games.
OCTOBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Jonathan Drouin - Loses TOI late Drouin had one shot, one hit and two penalty minutes over 15:23 of ice time in Saturday's 2-1 shootout win over the Sharks.
Impact Drouin once again was on the first line with Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, but he was not on the ice when Colorado pulled the goalie late and tied the game with 1:26 left in regulation. When he needed the team's best offensive players, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar went with Cale Makar and five of the top-six forwards, excluding Drouin. Then he never got off the bench during overtime. It's not a big deal for a coach to adjust on-ice deployments late in a game when down a goal, but it gave insight into where Drouin sits in the mind of Bednar. The first-line winger has one assist, two shots on goal, one hit and four PIM through two games.
OCTOBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Andrew Cogliano - Makes season debut Cogliano missed both of his shot attempts and won one of five faceoffs over 11:07 of ice time in Saturday's 2-1 shootout victory over San Jose.
Impact It was a quiet season debut for Cogliano, who was held out of Wednesday's opener due to a neck injury he'd rehabbed during the offseason. He skated on the fourth line and was part of the penalty kill that killed four Shark power plays. The veteran could move up on occasion, but his primary home will be the fourth line and PK.
OCTOBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
