Lucas Raymond led Detroit to a 3-1 win over Buffalo, posting a goal and power-play assist on Sunday. Raymond just turned 22 and is on pace for 67 points this season. I don't think he's received enough recognition for the level of production he's managed at such a young age. With Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane in the fold this year, Raymond hasn't seen the consistent top-unit role with the man advantage that he's seen in years past. However, when he's gotten that opportunity, he's made the most of it. Raymond has played 77 games this season. In 23 of those games, he's seen 60% or more of Detroit's power-play time. 11 of his 16 power-play points on the season came in those 23 games. It goes without saying that if Raymond's on your fantasy roster, you want him to see prominent minutes with the man advantage. Perhaps that becomes easier next year with Kane and David Perron set to become unrestricted free agents this summer.

Fast start for the Motor City team… makes sense 🚨🏎️ pic.twitter.com/qPHsdhqwpG

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 7, 2024

Tage Thompson scored Buffalo's lone goal of the game. He's been on fire lately, racking up 11 goals and nine assists in his last 14 games (1.43 points/game). This stretch of play stands out from Thompson's performance earlier in the season, as he had 35 points in his previous 52 games (0.67p/g). Some may dial back expectations for Thompson next year based on his underwhelming overall production, but I see that as an opportunity to buy low in fantasy formats. He suffered a wrist injury early in the campaign, which likely affected his play in the months that followed. His current hot streak is a reminder of the type of player he can be when healthy – one that posted 94 points just last season.

Speaking of ending the year on a high note. Alex Tuch is singing the same tune as Thompson. After posting 40 points in his first 55 appearances, Tuch has 17 in his last 15.

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Hopefully you read yesterday's Ramblings and cashed in on Ian's recommendation to stream Jesper Wallstedt. Making his second NHL start, Wallstedt stopped all 24 shots Chicago threw at him, recording his first win and first shutout in the same game. Minnesota has a back-to-back scheduled this week, so there's a chance Wallstedt gets career-start number three against the Sharks on Saturday. Drafted 20^th overall in 2021, Wallstedt seems to have a bright future ahead of him, but highly touted goalies often need time to develop and reach their prime. Don't expect him to jump into a starting role for Minnesota any time soon, especially with Filip Gustavsson on contract for two more years.

Kirill Kaprizov was also integral in the Wild winning on Sunday, posting two goals and an assist. He reached the 40-goal mark for a third-straight season. Kaprizov has found the scoresheet in 15 of his last 16 games, racking up 26 points during that span. In mid-December, concerns mounted as he was on pace for a pedestrian 70-point campaign. Fast forward to present day and he's on pace for 104. Oftentimes, it pays to be patient with superstars.

In Sunday's head-to-head matchup of Calder candidates, Brock Faber came out on top, serving a sensational drop-pass to Kaprizov on Minnesota's fourth goal of the game. Although Connor Bedard was held off the scoresheet Sunday, he still leads the rookie scoring race. Bedard's 0.94 points per game are nearly double Faber's 0.56, but Faber is playing nearly 25 minutes at the more difficult position of defense. There's an argument for each player winning the Calder, but ultimately we're the winners for getting to witness such high levels of talent.

Give this kid the Calder!

Faber finds Kaprizov and it's a 4-0 lead for the #mnwild pic.twitter.com/foVSB9w8JB

— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) April 7, 2024

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Frederik Andersen added another page of excellence to his story this season, posting a 23-save shutout against the Blue Jackets. This is his third shutout over his last seven games. He's allowed two or fewer goals in 12 of his last 13 starts.

With Daniil Tarasov and Elvis Merzlikins injured, Malcolm Subban stepped in for his first NHL start in over two years. He fared relatively well, posting a .914 save percentage. The 30-year-old netminder has had a rough go since he was drafted 24^th overall in 2012. He had some decent stretches with Vegas but has been stuck with limited action on struggling teams since. Perhaps Sunday's start puts him on the radar for a new contract as his current one expires at the end of the season.

Teuvo Teravainen earned a point on two of the three goals Carolina scored Sunday. He's had a small-scale rebound this season, on pace for 55 points after pacing for 45 last year. His overall output remains limited because he's stuck in a secondary power-play role. With young talent surpassing him on the power-play depth chart, it's hard to see him getting the opportunity necessary to flirt with a 70-point pace as he did in earlier years with the Canes.

Aho scores his 35th goal of the season on a power play to make it 2-0.@Canes | #CauseChaos pic.twitter.com/LALuUwJiCf

— Bally Sports: Canes (@CanesOnBally) April 7, 2024

Another game, another point for Jake Guentzel. He now has 21 points in 14 games since joining the Hurricanes. Only three players in the league have more points during that span.

Another game, another point for… Brady Skjei? The 30-year-old blueliner has a career-high 45 points in 75 outings this season. He was barely seeing any power-play time at the start of the campaign but has since earned a nice role on the second unit as a result of his strong play. He entered this season with just 20 power-play points in over 500 career games. He has 12 PPPs in 78 appearances this year.

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With an assist on Sunday, Fabian Zetterlund now has 17 points in his last 20 games. Zetterlund, a main piece in the trade that sent Timo Meier to the Devils, clearly had some untapped potential. Some of that potential was unlocked this year thanks to a prominent role in San Jose where he sees nearly 19 minutes a night, with a 58% share of the team's power-play time. The 24-year-old forward has only played ~150 games in the NHL, so he still has some time to develop. This recent run of offense could be a sign of what's to come.

The only Shark with more points than Zetterlund during this 20-game stretch is Mikael Granlund, who has 22. He's been a remarkable story this year, on pace for 69 points after tallying just 41 last season. Granlund bounceback – sponsored by 21 minutes of ice time and a 72% share of power-play time!

Rookie defenseman Henry Thrun led the Sharks in scoring on Sunday, posting a goal and assist. He has points in back-to-back games and has seen top-unit power-play time in both contests. He's not a household name just yet but could very well be San Jose's power-play quarterback next year. Keep him on your radar.  

A goal and assist on Sunday let Clayton Keller extend his point streak to 11 games. Keller has benefitted from a surprisingly successful Coyotes power play this year. Arizona ranks 12^th in the league with a 22.4% success rate. That's led to 28 PPPs through 73 games for Keller – a step up from last year's 20 in 82.

Another game, another TWO points for Nick Schmaltz. Five of his last six outings have been two-point nights. I've used this analogy before, but Schmaltz's season so far can be described as a sandwich with really good bread and a crumb of cheese in between. He started out with 13 points in 13 games, fell off a cliff with 19 in his next 40, but found some more amazing bread with 28 in his last 21.

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Jake Sanderson scored the overtime winner for his 35^th point of the season, handing Washington its sixth-straight loss. I think many had higher expectations for Sanderson given his expanded power-play role this year. However, it's important to remember he's just 21 years old and this is his second season in the NHL. His talent is undeniable, but he might need a little more time to find his groove and achieve the lofty offensive ceiling we all know he has. More importantly, the entire team fell short of expectations this year, which obviously influenced Sanderson's overall output. I think it's interesting that Thomas Chabot – who has fallen into a smaller power-play role while also being hindered by injuries – is scoring at his usual 50-point pace this year. I doubt it happens, but maybe there's a world where Ottawa puts Chabot back on PP1 temporarily next year. That would take some responsibility off Sanderson's plate, giving him more time and space to grow and develop.  

🔴 OTTAWA WINS IT ⚫️

Jake Sanderson scores in @Energizer overtime to give the @Senators the win! pic.twitter.com/tIcPy1uRKa

— NHL (@NHL) April 8, 2024

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Kaapo Kahkonen suffered a lower-body injury halfway through the first period during Sunday's game against Nashville. He was replaced by Jake Allen, who stopped an impressive 29 of 30 shots despite losing in the shootout. It was a commendable performance from Allen, who had a quick turnaround having just beaten the Senators on Saturday.

Luke Hughes registered an assist on Sunday, extending his point streak to seven games. With 12 points in his last 10 appearances, the 20-year-old rookie blueliner is cementing himself as the third horse in this season's Calder race.

With two assists on Sunday, Filip Forsberg has 17 goals and 17 assists in his last 21 games. Only four players in the league have more points during this stretch. No one has more goals.  

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Two points Sunday gives Alexis Lafrenière 17 points in his last 13 games. He's on pace for nearly 60 points this season, which is remarkable given his lack of power-play opportunity and production. Lafrenière has 50 even-strength points this season, which ranks 30^th in the league. He's found great chemistry with Artemi Panarin, who had a four-point night against the Canadiens and is now on a career-high 121-point pace. Numbers and words can only do so much talking, so hopefully the highlights below give you a greater appreciation for the strides Lafrenière has taken.

What a play between Panarin and Lafrenière here. The career years continue for both. pic.twitter.com/qmlWZG6LsN

— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) April 8, 2024

The sky is the limit for Lafrenière. #NYR pic.twitter.com/0FRK8PYWhE

— Snark Messier (@NYRFanatic) April 7, 2024

After scoring on Sunday, Cole Caufield is now riding a four-game goal streak. Despite this recent run, he's on pace for just 25 goals – a significant step down from the 46-goal pace he posted last year. He's been a bit unlucky this season, converting on just 8% of the shots he's taken. In previous years, that conversion rate was above 12%. Some will point to his January 2023 shoulder surgery as a potential explanation for this season's attenuated output. Whatever it is, I think we'll see him bounce back and light the lamp more often next year.

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The Blues' big boys led the team to a 6-5 shootout win over Anaheim on Sunday. Robert Thomas had four points while Jordan Kyrou tallied three. Kyrou's overall production seems underwhelming when compared to recent years, but it's weighed down by a slow start. He's rebounded nicely, tallying 46 points in his last 50 games, which translates to 75 over 82. There's a clear event that separates his poor start from his recent success – the Blues replacing Craig Berube with current coach Drew Bannister.

Like Kyrou, St. Louis' power play has also been better under Bannister. After posting an abysmal 8.4% success rate through 28 games under Berube, they're clicking at 23.3% under Berube. Two of their five goals Sunday came with the man advantage.

An Anaheim offense that looked lifeless in March has now posted five goals in two out of three April games. Although he's been solid for most of the season, Jordan Binnington is struggling at the most crucial stage of the fantasy season. He's allowed four or more goals in four of his last seven games.

With two goals on Sunday, Frank Vatrano is up to 32 on the year. It's worth noting that most of his scoring was done earlier in the season as he had just one goal in 17 games prior to Sunday's contest. Still, if before the season started you told me Vatrano would sit 26^th in goal-scoring right now, I would've laughed in your face. He's been a pleasant surprise this season, benefitting from a career-high ice time of 18:22 and career-high power-play share of 51.7%.

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Dallas' power-play led the Stars to a 7-4 victory over Colorado on Sunday. Thomas Harley registered in assist on all three of the team's power-play markers.

Jamie Benn continues to turn back the clock, racking up three points on Sunday night. He has 29 points in his last 23 games, leading Dallas in scoring during that stretch. Close behind is young linemate Wyatt Johnston, who has 26 points in the same span, including three on Sunday. At just 20 years of age, Johnston is on pace for a 67-point season.

After Sunday's performance, Alexendar Georgiev has conceded six goals in back-to-back games. He's allowed four or more in four of his last five outings. After posting a .919 SV% last year – his first season as Colorado's bona fide starter – it's staggering to see him with an .899 this year.

Mikko Rantanen missed Sunday's dance with Dallas and seems set to miss Tuesday's game against Minnesota as well.

Per Bednar, Rantanen in concussion protocol and won't play tonight but he did work out yesterday and skate on his own this morning. Considered day-to-day. Miles Wood also lower body will be out day-to-day. #DALvsCOL #GoAvsGo

— Conor McGahey (@ConorMcGahey) April 7, 2024

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Thanks for reading! If you ever have any fantasy hockey questions, follow me on Twitter @BrennanDeSouza and shoot me a message!