NHL Grind Down: Monday, February 15th

by John Britt (jmbwngfn) Last Updated 2016-02-17 15:18:54

The RotoGrinders NHL Grind Down article will give you an in-depth analysis into the NHL schedule. This article will break down the numbers for every single game and give you analysis on which trends you can exploit. While matchups are a major factor in daily fantasy hockey there are plenty of other factors to consider such as injuries, salaries, and more.

The analysis should point you in the right direction, but it is still up to you to decipher the information and make your own selections. Hockey is an extremely high variance sport. The best choice is not always the right choice but following the trends will win you money over time.

Remember, these writeups are done prior to lineups being released, so make sure to check our Starting Lineups page to ensure the recommended options are playing.

Note: As always, if you want to try a new DFS site, be sure to click through a RotoGrinders link and use our DraftKings promo code and FanDuel promo code to receive the best perks in the industry.

Detroit Red Wings at New York Islanders – 01:00 PM EST

Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Detroit Red Wings					New York Islanders
			Petr Mrazek					Thomas Greiss
			Record					Record
			28-18-9					29-19-6
Team Stats	2.51	2.44	18.20%	80.40%	Team Stats	2.83	2.54	19.70%	86.60%

The Red Wings survived a high scoring affair with a 6-5 win over Boston yesterday afternoon and have now won four of their last five games to secure second place in the Atlantic Division. They won’t have much time to enjoy that victory as they’ll head to Brooklyn for tonight’s clash with an Islanders team who they’ve defeated in both prior meetings this season (by a combined score of 9-3). Detroit top line of Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Justin Abdelkader has been carrying the offensive load lately and are the most consistent fantasy options. Zetterberg scored a goal and added an assist in yesterday’s game and has now picked up three goals and four assists during his current four game scoring streak. Datsyuk scored two more goals yesterday and has now not only tallied five goals and four assists during his five game point streak but has also dished out three assists in the two prior meetings with the Islanders. Meanwhile Dylan Larkin and Tomas Tatar have been rather quiet lately but still provide Coach Blashill a very dangerous secondary scoring line with both players also seeing plenty of on the second power-play unit. The Wings will once again be without Niklas Kronwall tonight which locks Mike Green into all the playing time he can handle on the point of the top power-play, but New Yorks stellar 86.6% penalty kill puts a dent into his fantasy value. Alternatively, both Danny DeKeyser and Brendan Smith have seen expanded roles in this offense since the Kronwall injury and are fine secondary options where they’re still cheap.

The Islander saw their three game winning streak snapped with a disappointing 6-3 loss in Carolina on Saturday and will open up a crucial short two-game homestand tonight before setting off on a grueling seven game road trip. New York has played very well at home ice this season (18-8-3) and Jack Capuano has two very dangerous offensive lines that will require Detroit’s attention. John Tavares headlines the top line alongside Mikhail Grabovski and Ryan Strome and Tavares is finally starting to heat up; posting four goals and five assists during his current five game point streak. While he’s likely my favorite option from the Islanders he’ll also likely see a full dose of Pavel Datsyuk pestering defense. Alternatively, Kyle Okposo sits just one point behind Tavares on the season (44) and has a five game scoring streak of his own intact. He’s racked up five goals and eight assists over his last 11 games and joins Tavares on the #1 power-play unit. Both Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk will look to take advantage of Detroit’s middling penalty kill this evening and both players are very reasonably priced across the industry. While neither has an elite upside, they both like like solid value plays in H2H’s and 50/50’s.

Detroit Red Wings

CF%: 51.2, CP60: 100, 5×5 Differential: 10
Elite Options: Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg
Secondary Options: Gustav Nyquist, Dylan Larkin, Justin Abdelkader, Tomas Tatar, Mike Green, Danny DeKeyser

New York Islanders

CF%: 51, CP60: 112.4, 5×5 Differential: 5
Elite Options: John Tavares, Kyle Okposo
Secondary Options: Frans Nielsen, Ryan Strome, Anders Lee, Brock Nelson, Nick Leddy, Johnny Boychuk

Anaheim Ducks at Calgary Flames – 04:00 PM EST

Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Anaheim Ducks					Calgary Flames
			John Gibson					Jonas Hiller
			Record					Record
			27-19-8					25-26-3
Team Stats	2.28	2.35	18.20%	88.30%	Team Stats	2.67	2.96	14.80%	75.00%

The Ducks picked up a statement win in Chicago on Saturday and, after going 8-1-1 in their last ten games, finally find themselves within striking distance of the Pacific Division leading Los Angeles Kings. Their grueling seven game road trip will head to Western Canada tonight as they’ll face the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Considering their improved play and the fact that Calgary has allowed 2.96 goals against per game this season and sport an atrocious 75.0% penalty kill, there’s plenty to like from Anaheim tonight. Bruce Boudreau recently split his super start forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry onto different lines and the Ducks now have three very capable scoring lines. Getzlaf leads the club with 42 points and is joined by David Perron on the top line. Perron has benefited from the change in scenery and has scored goals in back-to-back games and now owns five goals and six assists in 11 games with his new team. Perry still joins Getzlaf on the top power-play unit and has scored two goals and added an assist in the two prior meetings against Calgary this season. On defense, Sami Vatanen and Cam Fowler both share the duties on the point of the #1 power-play unit and look like rock solid cash game options in this matchup.

That thud you heard on on Friday was the Calgary Flames coming back down to earth after a somewhat lucky three game winning streak as they were outworked by the Arizona Coyotes in a 4-1 loss. Calgary’s playoff hopes are on life support at this point and the next two weeks will likely determine which direction their front office moves as the trade deadline approaches. While they’ve been badly outshot in each of their last four games and lost both prior meetings to the visiting Anaheim Ducks this season, it’s impossible to ignore their improved play on home ice. Calgary owns a 16-11-0 record at the Saddledome this season where Johnny Gaudreau has put up video-game like numbers; scoring 18 goals, adding 18 assists and skating at a +20 in 26 home games. He and his linemates Sean Monahan and Jiri Hudler are really the only reliable cash game options up front for this team. With that said, Sam Bennett has tallied a goal and an assist in the two games against Anaheim and the former fourth overall pick has racked up ten goals and four assists in his last 14 games making him an intriguing GPP option. Mark Giordano is the most attractive option on the blue-line as he’s posted 35 points in 54 games and averages nearly 25 minutes of ice-time per game. However, with Anaheim sporting the NHL’s best penalty kill, this may not be the time to pay his lofty asking price.

Anaheim Ducks

CF%: 53.2, CP60: 108.3, 5×5 Differential: -12
Elite Options: Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, David Perron
Secondary Options: Ryan Kesler, Rickard Rakell, Sami Vatanen, Cam Fowler

Calgary Flames

CF%: 47.2, CP60: 110.8, 5×5 Differential: -11
Elite Options: Johnny Gaudreau
Secondary Options: Sean Monahan, Jiri Hudler, Sam Bennett, Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton, T.J. Brodie

Pittsburgh Penguins at Florida Panthers – 07:30 PM EST

Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Pittsburgh Penguins					Florida Panthers
			Marc-Andre Fleury					Roberto Luongo
			Record					Record
			28-19-7					32-18-6
Team Stats	2.57	2.52	19.70%	83.90%	Team Stats	2.73	2.36	16.60%	81.20%

Evgeni Malkin may still be sidelined, but Sidney Crosby looks compelled to put this Pittsburgh team on his back right now and lead them into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Penguins picked up a hard-fought 2-1 win in Carolina on Friday night and have now posted a solid 7-2-0 record over their last nine games. They’ll head to south Florida tonight to take on the Atlantic Division leading Florida Panthers in what figures to be another physical game. With the Panthers allowing just 2.36 goals against per game this season while also being the second slowest paced team in the league (97.3 CP60), it’s tough to get overly excited about the Penguins in this spot. With that said, Sidney Crosby may have been held off the scoresheet in each of the last two games but he’s accounted for points on all six of Pittsburgh’s goals against the Panthers this season (2 goals and four assists in their two meetings) and has racked up 17 goals and 12 assists in his last 19 games. Chris Kunitz and Patric Hornqvist get to reap the benefits of playing alongside him at even strength while Phil Kessel joins that trio on the #1 power-play unit. On defense, Kris Letang has been on a heater of his own lately; posting eight goals and 16 assists in his last 17 games. He’s also had success against the Panthers with a pair of goals and three assists in those two prior meetings and is a top tier option on the blue-line if you can afford him.

The Panthers have been one of the more surprising teams in the league this season, but while they still find themselves in first place in the Atlantic Division, we may be starting to see some vulnerabilities as they’ve dropped four of their last five games and have surrendered five goals in each of the last two. Florida received a big blow with Aleksander Barkov heading to injured reserve and Brandon Pirri leaving Saturday’s game on crutches, and simply aren’t the most appealing team from a fantasy standpoint. Both Jaromir Jagr and Jonathan Huberdeau are tied for the team lead with 40 points and there’s some added appeal to Jagr in this one as he takes on his former team. While that top line (now likely centered by Nick Bjugstad) will likely receive more attention, it’s been the line of Jussi Jokinen, Vincent Trocheck and Reilly Smith doing most of the damage lately. That trio has combined for seven goals and 15 assists in seven games since the All-Star break and will likely be widely overlooked making them intriguing GPP options. Aaron Ekblad is a star in the making and the top option from the Florida blue-line with Brian Campbell worth a GPP play as the quarterback of the top power-play unit.

Pittsburgh Penguins

CF%: 51.6, CP60: 110.2, 5×5 Differential: 4
Elite Options: Sidney Crosby, Patric Hornqvist, Kris Letang
Secondary Options: Chris Kunitz, Phil Kessel, Carl Hagelin, Trevor Daley

Florida Panthers

CF%: 47.4, CP60: 97.3, 5×5 Differential: 17
Elite Options: None
Secondary Options: Jonathan Huberdeau, Jussi Jokinen, Jaromir Jagr, Vincent Trocheck, Aaron Ekblad, Brian Campbell

Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators – 08:00 PM EST

Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Dallas Stars					Nashville Predators
			Antti Niemi					Pekka Rinne
			Record					Record
			36-15-5					26-21-9
Team Stats	3.25	2.68	22.10%	79.80%	Team Stats	2.63	2.64	20.00%	78.70%

Dallas picked up a statement win with a 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals on Saturday and have now regained their spot atop the Central Division. They’ll look to pick up their fourth straight win tonight as they head out on a three-game road trip that starts tonight (near RotoGrinders HQ) against the Nashville Predators. Dallas smoked Nashville 5-1 in their only previous meeting this season with the dynamic duo of Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn combining for three goals and an assist. As usual, both Benn and Seguin are elite options once again tonight and their new linemate Patrick Eaves (who has four goals and four assists in six games since the break) comes in as one of the best value plays of the evening. With Eaves thriving on the top line and Jason Spezza out of commission, it’s once again very tough to trust Patrick Sharp as anything other than a GPP flier. On defense, John Klingberg has heated back up with points in three straight games and looks like a terrific option against the Predators subpar 78.7% penalty kill. He’s tallied four goals and three assists in six games since the All-Star break and grabbed a pair of helpers against Nashville in that first meeting.

With the Predators hanging on to the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference playoff race, picking up two points against the division leading Dallas Stars would be a much needed momentum boost. Nashville played one of their better games of the season the last time out, blanking the Panthers in a 5-0 victory. While things certainly won’t come easy this evening, the Predators should benefit from the Stars frantic pace (116.1 CP60). Ryan Johansen and James Neal lead the charge from Nashville’s top forward line, with Johansen owning 16 points in his first 16 games in a Predators jersey. Neal scored a goal and added an assist against Florida on Saturday and has picked up three goals and two assists in his last five games. Filip Forsberg has caught fire with four goals and two assists in the last four games and joins Mike Ribeiro and Craig Smith on a second line that figures to be severly under-owned this evening. On the blue-line, both Shea Weber and Roman Josi may carry lofty price-tags, but for good reason. Josi actually leads the team with 42 points with Weber trailing closely behind with 36. They both are locked into huge minutes with plenty of run on the man advantage and will be eager to attack the Stars 79.8% penalty kill.

Dallas Stars

CF%: 53.5, CP60: 116.1, 5×5 Differential: 13
Elite Options: Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, John Klingberg
Secondary Options: Patrick Eaves, Ales Hemsky, Alex Goligoski, Patrik Nemeth

Nashville Predators

CF%: 53.5, CP60: 105, 5×5 Differential: -1
Elite Options: James Neal, Ryan Johansen, Shea Weber, Roman Josi
Secondary Options: Filip Forsberg, Mike Fisher, Mike Ribeiro, Mattias Ekholm

Toronto Maple Leafs at Chicago Blackhawks – 08:30 PM EST

Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Toronto Maple Leafs					Chicago Blackhawks
			James Reimer					Scott Darling
			Record					Record
			20-25-9					36-18-5
Team Stats	2.35	2.80	14.60%	81.20%	Team Stats	2.75	2.32	20.30%	80.90%

ALERT: Scott Darling will start in net for Chicago tonight.

The Maple Leafs snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-2 win in Vancouver on Saturday, but there’s not much reason for optimism tonight as they head to the United Center to battle the defending Stanley Cup Champions. Toronto has posted an ugly 4-10-2 record in their last 16 games and recently shipped off their Captain Dion Phaneuf to the Ottawa Senators. With nazem Kadri potentially joining the likes of Tyler Bozak, James van Riemsdyk and Milan Michalek in the press box for this game, there are simply better options to choose from on a seven game slate. On defense, Jake Gardiner and Morgan Rielly should both see expanded roles with this offense now that Phaneuf is out of the picture. Gardiner dished out a pair of assists against Vancouver and has now picked up points in three straight games. Rielly has been quiet lately but did score a goal against Chicago when they met earlier this season and oozes offensive upside.

The Blackhawks have now not only dropped three straight games, but they’ve also lost the lead in the Central Division to the Dallas Stars. To make matters worse, they’re now going to be without Marian Hossa for the foreseeable future. Finally with something to prove, I’m expecting an inspired performance from them this evening. While the Hossa injury is a big blow, it shouldn’t have any lasting effects on the NHL scoring leader Patrick Kane. “Kaner” exploded for three goals and an assist against the Maple Leafs in their only previous meeting this season and owns a ridiculous 33 goals and 45 assists in 59 games this season. He’ll once again be joined by the finally healthy Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov both at even strength and on the #1 power-play unit and is the premier play of the evening. Jonathan Toews may be without his partner-in-crime Hossa, but should be able to focus more attention on his offensive game against the depleted Maple Leafs. The Chicago Captain has posted two goals and three assists in five games since the break and will likely be widely overlooked, making him an excellent GPP target. On the blue-line, both Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook are known commodities but soak up nearly all of the available playing time on the point of the #1 power-play unit and make for fine options in all formats if you can afford them.

Toronto Maple Leafs

CF%: 50.9, CP60: 114.1, 5×5 Differential: -14
Elite Options: None
Secondary Options: Leo Komarov, Jake Gardiner, Morgan Rielly

Chicago Blackhawks

CF%: 51.1, CP60: 109.9, 5×5 Differential: -1
Elite Options: Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith
Secondary Options: Artem Anisimov, Andrew Shaw, Teuvo Teravainen, Brent Seabrook