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The NHL Evening Skate for Oct. 19

Yahoo Sports Staff

Heading into this evening’s action, here are the day’s top NHL storylines:

Let’s just say the best player in the world is a different guy every week

That McDavid/Matthews debate over the last week is silly, and it’s nothing new. I’m not one to be like, “Ah well, until so and so does such and such, he can’t be the best.” You don’t need to win Cups, you don’t need to be on a good team, you don’t necessarily even need to score 100 points. But in the case of Auston Matthews versus Connor McDavid, let’s just keep in mind that Matthews had 16 fewer points in his first two seasons despite playing 17 more games, and with a lot more help. [More]

Mikko Rantanen turning into ‘driving force’ for Avalanche

One of the goals entering the 2018-19 NHL season for Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar was to push Mikko Rantanen to become a more consistent, impact player. Through seven games, the young Finnish star is leading the NHL in assists with 11 and his team in points with 13, showing that even after a 29-goal, 84-point performance last season, there’s plenty still to come. [More]

Lamp-lighters

The Ovechkins post family photo with newborn son Sergei

In June, the Capitals won their first-ever Stanley Cup, and in August, Alex Ovechkin and his wife Nastya Ovechkina welcomed their first child, a son named Sergei. In honor of the infant’s two-month birthday, Nastya posted a picture that featured Alex holding Sergei in his hands. [More]

Fantasy forecheck

Rattling Around The Dome: Bold predictions for this NHL fantasy season
Montreal Canadiens’ Tomas Plekanec scores against Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard during NHL hockey action. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)
Montreal Canadiens’ Tomas Plekanec scores against Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard during NHL hockey action. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

Our weekly Friday roundup, “Rattling Around The Dome,” will feature a collection of random thoughts and fantasy-relevant musings from the replacement-level brain of Yahoo Canada Sports’ Kyle Cantlon. This week, as always, he’s enthralled and fascinated with hot takes and predictions. Everybody has them, but nobody is ever right — until now. [31 fantastically fearless prophecies this season]

Game of the night

Nashville Predators at Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) skates with the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Calgary Flames left wing Johnny Gaudreau (13) skates with the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Flames star winger Johnny Gaudreau was leveled by Boston defensemen Charlie McAvoy in the third period of Calgary’s 5-2 home ice win on Wednesday. The winger took part in the ensuing power play but then went to the dressing room and didn’t emerge for the rest of the game. Flames general manager Brad Treliving relayed a message to reporters in Calgary on Thursday that Gaudreau was “fine.” Calgary brings a 4-2 record into Friday. Nashville is off to a slightly better start at 5-1. The Predators’ only defeat was at the hands of Calgary, a 3-0 final in Tennessee on Oct. 9. [Full preview]