Saad didn't get on the ice for the final 15 minutes of the third period during Wednesday's Game 1 loss to the Penguins, Tom Reed of The Columbus Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

The winger is one of the few Blue Jackets with much playoff experience from his time with the Blackhawks, but he suffered the wrath of coach John Tortorella after a poor second period and a turnover early in the third, and he got nailed to the bench to close out Game 1. Saad was back on the top line with Andrew Wennberg and Nick Foligno during practice Thursday, however, so it doesn't look like Saad's punishment will extend into Game 2, at least initially.

Saad collected a pair of goals Thursday, but they weren't enough in a 5-4 loss to Winnipeg.

EDGE Analysis

He erased a 3-1 deficit with two goals within five minutes or so of one another in the second period, but it ended up being in vain. While Saad has now equaled last season's career-high 53 points alongside a career-best plus-25 rating, it's hard not to feel like we still haven't seen the best of him. The 24-year-old is capable of much higher point totals than this, but we may not see him make a big jump in that regard until he earns a spot on the No. 1 power-play unit. Amazingly, Saad has only three power-play points all year.

Saad registered two third-period assists -- one on the power play -- during Monday's win over Philadelphia.

EDGE Analysis

The 24-year-old winger is turning in another solid fantasy campaign with 20 goals and 48 points through 68 games, and he's in line to improve his point total for a fourth consecutive season. Saad is an elite five-on-five contributor, but for whatever reason, he hasn't been able to pad his numbers with the man advantage. After all, he has just two power-play points this season while sporting an 11th-ranked 2.43 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five among all skaters with 750 minutes entering Monday's game. Once he begins to click on the power play, look out.

Saad's third-period goal Thursday, his 19th of the season, held up as the game-winner in a 1-0 victory over the Wild.

EDGE Analysis

After a brutal start to the 2017 calendar year that saw Saad score just three goals and six points with a minus-6 rating and 40 shots on goal in 19 games, he's snapped out of his funk with two goals, six points, a plus-8 rating and 22 shots in his last eight contests. He's been squeezed off the Blue Jackets' top two lines at even strength for the moment, but the 24-year-old is still seeing regular shifts with the man advantage to bolster his fantasy outlook, including 2:42 in Thursday's win.

Saad picked up two assists with a plus-2 rating in Saturday's 7-0 drubbing of the Islanders.

EDGE Analysis

Getting knocked off one of the Blue Jackets' top lines didn't slow Saad down at all Saturday, as he now has a goal and five points in his last five games with a stellar plus-7 rating and 12 shots on net. On the season the 24-year-old is now a career-high plus-21, better than he managed on a Blackhawks squad in the midst of winning two Stanley Cups in three years, and Saad is also on pace to challenge the 60-point plateau for the first time.

Saad skated on a line with Sam Gagner and Scott Hartnell during Friday's practice, The Columbus Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Injuries to checking line forwards Lukas Sedlak (lower body) and Matt Calvert (oblique) have caused coach John Tortorella to shuffle things up, and at least at even strength, Saad seems to have drawn the short straw. He'll still keep his spot on the second power play unit, though, and had been heating up before the Blue Jackets' bye week, scoring three points (one goal, two assists) with a plus-5 rating and 11 shots on goal in his last four games. Don't assume the new assignment will have a big impact on his fantasy value while it lasts.

Saad recorded an assist and three shots on net during Wednesday's win over Toronto.

EDGE Analysis

While Saad has an uphill climb to match last season's 31-goal showing, he's on pace for his best campaign in the points column. In fact, among all skaters with at least 750 minutes at five-on-five this season, Saad's 2.47 points per 60 minutes rank fifth in the league. Unfortunately, despite averaging 1:36 of power-play time per game, he has just one goal and one assist with the man advantage. The power-play production could pick up down the stretch, but it's likely best viewed as a bonus and not expected. Still, Saad's already a go-to scorer and fantasy asset, and he's just entering his offensive prime.

Saad scored his 100th career goal Tuesday, adding an assist and a plus-2 rating in a 6-4 win over the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

It took him 335 games, as Saad has only gradually moved toward attaining the sniping future that was long forecast for him. Although he's having a solid year with 17 goals and 37 points in 49 games (which has him on pace to clear 60 points for the first time), it's hard not to feel like something's missing from Saad's repertoire, and that something is power-play production -- he has just two man-advantage points all year even though he's seen a decent amount of time in those situations.

Saad scored his 16th goal of the season in Thursday's 4-3 loss to the Predators.

EDGE Analysis

He's been in a slump heading into the All-Star break -- Thursday's tally was just his second goal, and second point, in the last 12 games -- but Saad still has 35 points through 48 games, putting him on pace to threaten the 60-point mark for the first time in his career. With some time off to clear his head, the 24-year-old could catch fire to begin the second half.

Saad's point streak now stands at five games and seven points after he picked up two assists in a 4-2 over Minnesota on Saturday night.

EDGE Analysis

Saad has three goals, and four assists in that span, and 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists) in 35 games. Remarkably, he has gotten all but one of those points at even strength.