Connor Collects Hats In The First Period

It’s not too often that you see the first period natural hat trick, but it happened on Tuesday night.  Kyle Connor scored his 24th-26th goals in the first period against the Canucks, adding a power play assist later in the game.  It’s been a fantastic start to the season by the Jets, and they’ve been led by the two Connor’s.  Here is the list of forwards who have provided more value than Connor to this point in the season: MacKinnon, Draisaitl, Kucherov.  That’s it.  Obviously he losses some value in non-hits leagues, but regardless, we’re looking at a season full of career highs for a player who has already had 47 goals in a season and 49 assists in a separate season.  It’s time for Connor to start being acknowledged for the superstar that he is.  Let’s take a look at what else happened over the last two nights:

Sam Reinhart – Two goals on three shots on Monday night.  He just won’t slow down and we’re thankful for that.

Noah Cates – Two goals on Monday.  Two seasons ago, it looked like Cates could have some offensive upside, but that never materialized.  Deep league option only.

Jakob Pelletier – Two goals and an assist with four shots.  If Pelletier can stay on the ice in Calgary, there could be something here.  For now, just monitor him outside of dynasties.

Yegor Sharangovich – Goal and an assist with two shots.  After a monster first season in Calgary, Sharangovich has fallen off a cliff.  He’s only a bottom end streamer.

Rory Kerins – Two assists with two shots in his NHL debut.  I have to be honest, I don’t know much about Kerins, a former sixth round pick.  His rookie professional season was decent in the AHL, but he’s blown up this year with 21+13 in 34 games.  Perhaps this line finds chemistry?  For now, just keep an eye on him.  Welcome to the Razzball Database!

Stuart Skinner – 30 save shutout in the 1-0 win over Darcy Kuemper (29/30) and the Kings.  It feels like Skinner either has a monster game or gets destroyed.  We just have to hope the good version shows up more frequently.

Zach Werenski – Two goals on five shots.  Werenski is having a season that we’ve seen from Josi in the past.  His previous career high was 57 points and three shots per game.  Now, we’re looking at a 93 point pace pushing towards 30 goals and almost four shots per game.  Werenski is clearly the #1 fantasy D right now.

Logan Thompson – 19 save shutout in the 3-0 win over the Ducks.  He’s the clear #1 now and should be a borderline #1 for 12’ers the rest of the way.

Brandon Duhaime – Goal and an assist with two shots.  Fine fourth liner, but that doesn’t move the needle for fantasy.

Logan Stankoven – Two goals and an assist with four shots.  Could this be the game to get him going?  The shot rate has really increased lately with 4+ shots in six of his last ten games.  With his upside, I still have Stankoven as an elite streamer.

Matt Duchene – Goal and two assists.  Duchene played almost 22 minutes because Roope Hintz left the game early due to injury.  Hopefully Hintz is alright, but it would be a boost to Duchene’s value.

Jake Oettinger – 27 saves on 28 shots in the 4-1 win over Toronto.  The wins are coming in at a staggering rate.  Even with a good but not great sv%, Oettinger is a top five goalie because of the GAA.  The team in front of him is playing great.

Adam Larsson – Two assists.  Larsson’s offense has completely cratered to the point where he’ll be lucky to get 20 points.  He’s a streamer for blocks only.

Vladimir Tarasenko – Two goals on four shots.  This isn’t enough to change my opinion on Tank.

Tyler Toffoli – Goal and two assists with two shots.  The top offensive line for the Sharks destroyed the Red Wings, as William Eklund also had a goal and two assists, while Macklin Celebrini dished two assists with three shots.  Toffoli is a solid streamer, Eklund is on the fringe, while Celebrini is a hold.

Victor Hedman – Goal and an assist with five shots.  I feel like Hedman has been an afterthought so far this season, yet he’s sitting as the #6 overall defenseman.  His stat line is solid across the board.

David Pastrnak – Goal and two assists with four shots.  Pasta has really elevated his game lately, both in terms of goals and shots.  He’s had at least four shots in nine of his last ten games.

Pavel Zacha – Goal and two assists with two shots.  Even with his great role, Zacha is only a middling streamer.

Brad Marchand – Goal and an assist with two shots.  Bottom end hold at this point in his career.

Andrew Peeke – Goal and an assist with four shots.  Peeke was a shot blocks machine in Columbus, but that has dried up in Boston.  Now, he provides nothing for fantasy.

Leevi Merilainen – 24 save shutout in the 2-0 win over the Isles.  Random goalies can get hot and it looks like that’s what’s happening with Merilainen.  If you need short term goalie help, pick him up.

Spencer Knight – 26 saves on 27 shots in the 2-1 OT win over the Devils.  Knight is worth streaming every time he starts just for the good chance of a win.

Gabe Vilardi – Assisted on all three Connor goals.  He’s pushing towards a point per game and is an easy hold everywhere.  Just stay healthy!

Mark Scheifele – Goal and an assist with three shots.  Six game point streak for Scheifele, who, like Connor, is playing at a superstar level.

Nino Niederreiter – Goal and an assist with seven shots.  The third line also did well against the Canucks, with Cole Perfetti having two assists with three shots.  Both are in the middling to solid streamer range.

Neal Pionk – Goal and an assist with four shots and two PIM.  It’s no surprise that Pionk’s offense has dried up a bit, but he was so good to start he’s still a top 10 defenseman on the season.  I’d rate him more in the 30th range for the rest of the season, but it’s a hold regardless.

Connor Hellebuyck – 23 saves on 24 shots.  Business as usual for the Vezina favorite.

Pavel Dorofeyev – Hat trick on four shots.  It’s been quite the breakout for Dorofeyev.  He’s in elite streamer range for goals and shots, even with poor assists.

Tomas Hertl – Two assists with a shot, as did Victor Olofsson, as the duo played with Dorofeyev.  Both are solid streamers.  I have a slight preference for Olofsson right now just because his shot is a focal point of their power play.

Steven Stamkos – Two goals and an assist with three shots and two PIM.  This was more like Smashville envisioned when they signed Stammer.  He’s still a solid streamer, maybe even an elite one, but I don’t really want to hold him at this point.

Filip Forsberg – Goal and an assist with two shots.  Forsberg, on the other hand, is still a clear hold.

Jordan Binnington – 26 saves on 27 shots in the 2-1 win over the Flames.  He’s fine as a #3 in 12’ers.  I’m also fine not holding him.  I’m really indifferent on Binnington.

Lane Hutson – Three assists.  All your assists are belong to Hutson!  It’s been quite the rookie season so far.  The long term upside is through the roof.

Michael Matheson – Goal and an assist with three shots and two PIM.  I lean towards leaving Matheson on waivers in non-blocks leagues, but it is still close since he does hits all of the categories.

Alexandre Carrier – Two assists with a shot.  He’s doing well on the second pair for the Canadiens.  There’s not offense here in general so I’d leave him to deep leagues.

Kirby Dach – Two goals and two PIM.  Dach is showing some signs of life, but he’s still only a bottom end streamer.

Cole Caufield – Goal and an assist with three shots.  Point per game, three shots per game.  Pretty, pretty good.

Clayton Keller – Two assists with a shot.  Another three point pick for me that ends up with two.  Sigh.

Nick Schmaltz – Two assists.  Schmaltz is an elite streamer, arguably on the fringe.  I’d just prefer to use him in that manner and not hold him.

Sam Carrick – Goal and an assist with two shots and two PIM.  And there’s your annual Carrick update!

Nathan MacKinnon – Two assists with four shots.  And with that, MacKinnon already has 70 points.  Seventy!

Three Point Challenge:  We will do Thursday’s games per usual.  You can’t select MacKinnon, Draisaitl, Rantanen, Marner, Kucherov, McDavid, Eichel, Connor, Scheifele, or J. Hughes.  I’ll go with Guentzel against the Ducks.