NHL Grind Down: Monday, February 8th
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.
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New Jersey Devils at New York Rangers – 07:00 PM EST
| New Jersey Devils | New York Rangers | ||||||||
 | Cory Schneider |  | Henrik Lundqvist | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 26-20-7 | 29-18-5 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.25 | 2.26 | 19.80% | 82.10% | Team Stats | 2.85 | 2.58 | 16.40% | 78.10% |
The Devils come into this one after losing two consecutive games to Washington and Toronto with both losses coming in a shootout. Mike Cammalleri is still on the sidelines but the top line that features Joseph Blandisi and Lee Stempniak have been picking up the slack. Both players have tallied nine points in the last eight games making them in play on tonight’s short four-game slate. If you want to go a bit contrarian the second line of Travis Zajac, Kyle Palmieri and Sergey Kalinin should do the trick but be forewarned, this line has only registered three assists in the last five games. Eric Gelinas gets the power play minutes on the point and should be in play as he has tallied three assists in the last five games. Look for New Jersey to score on the power play as they have scored seven goals of the variety in the last six games while the Rangers have given up four goals while being a man down in the last three games. Henrique, Stempniak and Gelinas will fit the bill nicely here.
The Rangers were already a bit short-handed with Rick Nash out of the lineup but now they will have to deal with Ryan McDonagh out as well from the concussion he suffered yesterday in Philadelphia. Two players have picked up the slack as Derick Brassard has eight points in his last four games while J.T. Miller has scored seven goals and an assist in his last eight games. Jesper Fast rounds out the top line and is starting to catch fire as he has found the scoresheet four times in the last four games. The second line of Mats Zuccarello, Derek Stepan and Chris Kreider can be used in GPP plays but if you are looking for a one-off, Zuccarello is your guy as he has four pints over the last four games. With McDonagh out, look for Keith Yandle to step it up a bit and get in on the scoring action tonight.
Elite Plays
NJ: None
NYR: None
Secondary Plays
NJ: Joseph Blandisi, Lee Stempniak, Adam Henrique, Eric Gelinas, Travis Zajac
NYR: J.T. Miller, Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello, Keith Yandle, Jesper Fast, Derek Stepan
Anaheim Ducks at Pittsburgh Penguins – 07:00 PM EST
| Anaheim Ducks | Pittsburgh Penguins | ||||||||
 | John Gibson |  | Marc-Andre Fleury | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 25-18-7 | 26-18-7 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.22 | 2.30 | 18.20% | 89.10% | Team Stats | 2.59 | 2.55 | 20.10% | 83.30% |
Don’t look now but the Anaheim Ducks are one of the hottest teams in the league. The Ducks are 8-2 in their last ten games and have won their last six which makes them just on point away from San Jose for second place in the Atlantic division. By moving Corey Perry to the second line Anaheim is starting to gel into a team that can possibly have two consistent scoring lines. Perry has three goals and three assists in his last six games while Rickard Rakell has seven points in his last seven games. On the top line Ryan Getzlaf has six points in his last five games it seems David Perron has the magic touch as he has three goals to go along with five assists in his last seven games. All these players should be considered for you line ups tonight. Defense is another story as Cam Fowler and Sami Vatanen get most of the power play minutes but that could change quick enough if Hampus Lindholm continues to stay hot. Lindholm has a goal in each of his last three games and has tallied 13 shots over that time frame.
Even without Evgeni Malkin the Pittsburgh power play continues to roll on by scoring in 13 of their last 16 games. You need to look no further than the top unit that features Sidney Crosby who has an astounding 15 points in his last eight games. Defenseman Kris Letang is next with 12 points in his last eight games while Chris Kunitz has scored four goals to go along with eight assists in his last eight games. Patric Hornqvist skates on the top line with Crosby and Kunitz and for some strange reason I think this trio will be seen in plenty of cash game line ups tonight. If you are looking for a GPP play Phil Kessel has to be considered but make sure you pair him with either Carl Hagelin or Matt Cullen as they all skate on the team’s second line.
Elite Play
ANA: Corey Perry
PIT: Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang
Secondary Plays
ANA: Ryan Getzlaf, Rickard Rakell, David Perron, Sami Vatanen, Hampus Lindholm
PIT: Chris Kunitz, Phil Kessel, Patric Hornqvist
Florida Panthers at Detroit Red Wings – 07:30 PM EST
| Florida Panthers | Detroit Red Wings | ||||||||
 | Roberto Luongo |  | Petr Mrazek | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 31-15-6 | 26-18-8 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.75 | 2.21 | 17.80% | 83.30% | Team Stats | 2.50 | 2.52 | 18.20% | 79.30% |
The Panthers have scored eight power play goals in their last five games and are looking for more tonight as the travel to Detroit to take on the fourth place Red Wings. As we all know Florida sits atop the Atlantic division backed by some timely scoring and stellar goaltending. Aleksander Barkov, Jaromir Jagr and Jonathan Huberdeau lead the team in scoring but maybe the second line tonight may be the best play, especially on the road. Reilly Smith skates on the top power play line and has made the most of the opportunity as he has grabbed four goals to go along with four assists in his last eight games. Vincent Trocheck and Jussi Jokinen complete the second line and have been equally as hot with Trocheck scoring five goals and three assists in the last five games while Jokinen is in the middle of a six game scoring streak. Aaron Ekblad is the choice on defense as he sees the top power play minutes on the point.
The Red Wings have scored 19 goals in their last seven games, the problem is trying to figure out who will score. Outside of Dylan Larkin and Tomas Tatar not many Red Wings have been finding the scoresheet. Coach Jeff Blashill has indicated that Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg will stay on the top line for a while but up until now they have a combined eight points over the last seven games. To make matters worse it looks like defenseman Mike Green is out with a groin injury so with Niklas Kronwall already injured, it’s anyone’s guess who will step up on the point. Danny DeKeyser, Brendan Smith, Jakub Kindl and Kyle Quincey have all had their shots in the past but against Florida, I think I will pass on this crew.
Elite Plays
FLA: Aleksander Barkov
DET: Dylan Larkin
Secondary Plays
FLA: Jonathan Huberdeau, Jaromir Jagr, Vincent Trocheck, Reilly Smith, Jussi Jokinen, Aaron Ekblad
DET: Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Tomas Tatar, Gustav Nyquist
Tampa Bay Lightning at Ottawa Senators – 07:30 PM EST
| Tampa Bay Lightning | Ottawa Senators | ||||||||
 | Ben Bishop |  | Craig Anderson | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 29-18-4 | 24-23-6 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.69 | 2.31 | 19.30% | 81.70% | Team Stats | 2.79 | 3.11 | 17.60% | 74.10% |
Tampa Bay is another team that has been hot of late as they have won ten of their last 11 games and are just six points behind the division leading Florida Panthers. The power play has been good of late so it is very peculiar that head coach Jon Cooper has decided to switch up the lines a bit. Steven Stamkos and Vladislav Namestnikov will now be joined by Ryan Callahan and Valtteri Filppula, who skate on the team’s third line. Stamkos is always in play but the line that should be used tonight especially on the road is the second line. Nikita Kucherov leads the team in scoring and has hit the scoresheet 11 times in his last eight games. Pair him up with Tyler Johnson as he has scored two goals to go along with three assists in the last four games. Anton Stralman is the choice on the back line as he is the lone defenseman on the team’s top power play unit.
After getting blown out two games in a row the Ottawa Senators rallied back to defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs Saturday night by a score of 6-1. Ottawa has been an up and down team so far this year as their 24-23-6 record may suggest as their main problems arise on the defensive end of the play. Only Columbus has given up more than the 169 goals that opponents have buried behind the senators goalie but that doesn’t mean they can’t score. Defenseman Erik Karlsson leads the team in scoring and is almost match up proof with his 59 points in 53 games. He also has 13 points in his last eight games which makes him a solid play if you can afford him. Kyle Turris has returned from injury and was immediately placed back on the top line with Bobby Ryan and Mike Hoffman. Both Hoffman and Ryan make decent plays as they both have tallied seven points in their last seven games. Mark Stone skates on the second line but gets the top power play minutes with the four players previously mentioned. He makes a nice one-off play as he has grabbed three goals to go along with two assists in his last three games. If you want to go a bit contrarian you can pair Stone with line mate Jean-Gabriel Pageau as his promotion has produced five points in the last five games.
Elite Plays
TB: Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov
OTT: Erik Karlsson
Secondary Plays
TB: Tyler Johnson, Vladislav Namestnikov, Ondrej Palat, Anton Stralman
OTT: Bobby Ryan, Mike Hoffman, Kyle Turris, Mark Stone