Sennecke’s workload keeps growing, Hagens produces in limited minutes, and Lehkonen benefits from Colorado’s top line.
Friday featured only two NHL games, but several developments deserve attention. Anaheim is giving Beckett Sennecke substantial responsibility, James Hagens contributed twice despite limited ice time, and Colorado’s leading forwards generated another strong offensive performance.
Anaheim: Sennecke’s role is becoming difficult to ignore
Beckett Sennecke scored his fifth goal of the season against Boston, playing 23:12. The goal came from a well-timed move toward the net, finishing a passing sequence involving Cutter Gauthier and Nikita Nesterenko.
Sennecke’s workload is becoming a stronger fantasy signal than his early scoring totals. He played more than 23 minutes, although he registered only one shot.
FHI’s September preseason forecast classified Sennecke as a player to monitor rather than a confirmed breakout candidate. His current deployment warrants a reassessment, but sustained individual shot generation remains important.
Roger McQueen provided an interesting contrast. He generated five shots in 15:14 without recording a point. The difference between Sennecke’s opportunity and McQueen’s individual shot volume deserves attention over the next several games.
Anaheim: Gauthier takes on an unfamiliar assignment
Cutter Gauthier returned from injury and played center for the first time in his NHL career, replacing some of the responsibility left by Mikael Granlund’s absence.
Gauthier played 21:20, generated four shots and assisted on Sennecke’s goal. His faceoff results were considerably less encouraging, winning just four of 20 draws.
Granlund remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury.
Gauthier’s offensive involvement survived the positional change, but playing center introduces additional defensive responsibilities. Whether Anaheim maintains this arrangement could influence both his workload and the opportunities available to Sennecke.
Jackson LaCombe also carried substantial responsibility, playing 26:26 and recording an assist. His minutes remain attractive, although Friday’s single shot offered little additional offensive evidence.
Boston: Hagens produces twice in just ten minutes
James Hagens recorded two assists in Boston’s 4–2 victory, despite playing only 10:03.
His first assist came on Frederic Brunet’s power-play goal. He later set up Matthew Poitras on a two-on-one rush. Hagens also registered two shots.
The production is encouraging, particularly his involvement on the power play. His overall deployment remains restricted, however, limiting the value of projecting Friday’s scoring rate forward.
Poitras scored in just 9:18, while Brunet recorded his first NHL goal in 13:58.
Boston received meaningful contributions from three young players without substantially expanding their minutes. Hagens is the most interesting player to monitor for a larger offensive assignment.
Boston: The power play finally delivers
David Pastrnak scored and assisted against Anaheim, generating four shots in 20:35. Elias Lindholm added a goal and an assist in 18:30, while Pavel Zacha contributed two assists.
Boston scored three times on four power-play opportunities after entering the game with just three conversions in 18 attempts.
Pastrnak’s premium deployment remains secure. Lindholm’s involvement around the crease is encouraging, although his single shot provides limited evidence of increased individual offensive activity.
The more relevant development is Boston’s improved power-play execution. Whether the unit can maintain that effectiveness will have implications for Lindholm and Zacha, whose fantasy value depends more heavily on their offensive environment.
Colorado: Lehkonen’s opportunity is producing results
Artturi Lehkonen scored twice against Pittsburgh, generating three shots in 18:33. Both goals came at even strength, with Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas assisting on each.
MacKinnon finished with a goal, three assists and nine shots in 22:59. Necas recorded three assists in 20:58.
Lehkonen’s involvement alongside MacKinnon and Necas gives him access to one of the league’s strongest offensive environments.
FHI’s October 9 Radar snapshot had already identified Lehkonen as a Process Ahead of Role candidate, with Driver 90 against Deployment 73 and 0.58 Expected P/G. Friday’s performance strengthens the case for reviewing that assessment, particularly following his increased involvement on the top line.
MacKinnon’s nine shots provide an additional indication of how much offense Colorado’s leading unit is generating.
The Avalanche also introduced Brett McLean as the assistant responsible for the power play. Colorado converted once in four opportunities, with MacKinnon scoring from Cale Makar’s pass. The coaching change is worth monitoring, although Friday provided little evidence of a significant tactical adjustment.
Pittsburgh: Koivunen gets another opportunity
Ville Koivunen returned to Pittsburgh’s lineup with Egor Chinakhov unavailable because of a lower-body injury.
Koivunen assisted on Evgeni Malkin’s opening goal, played 15:46 and registered one shot. His immediate involvement is encouraging, but his offensive role remains dependent on Pittsburgh’s lineup decisions.
Rickard Rakell generated five shots in 18:51 without recording a point. His individual offensive activity was stronger than the result suggests.
Pittsburgh’s power play failed to convert on three opportunities. The team has now lost five of its last six games, increasing the importance of monitoring potential changes to its forward combinations.