NHL Grind Down: Monday, November 21st - Page 2
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Chicago Blackhawks at Edmonton Oilers
| Chicago Blackhawks | Edmonton Oilers | ||||||||
 | Corey Crawford |  | Cam Talbot | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 13-4-2 | 10-8-1 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 3.16 | 2.47 | 18.60% | 69.50% | Team Stats | 2.79 | 2.68 | 15.10% | 85.70% |
Chicago is in the thick of their longest road trip of the season, but at least it happens to come right as they’re playing some really good hockey. They’ve posted a 10-1-1 record over their last 12 games and find themselves sitting comfortably atop the Central Division as we reach the quarter-pole of the 16-17 season. They’ll face an improved Edmonton Oilers team tonight but they should still be rather popular as Edmonton is still proving to be prone to defensive breakdowns as evidenced by their ugly 10.24 SCA60. As expected, Patrick Kane once again leads this team with 20 points in 19 games this season. He posted a goal and six assists in three meetings against this Edmonton team last season and is easily one of the top options on the entire board this evening. He’ll be joined by Jonathan Toews and Richard Panik at even strength while reuniting with his old linemates Artem Anisimov and Artemi Panarin on the #1 power-play unit. Both Panarin and Anisimov trail just behind Kane with 18 points a piece and seem to be fairing just fine with Marian Hossa on their wing rather than Mr. Kane. With Edmonton lacking a true “shut down” defender, all six forwards on the top two lines look like very nice options. On defense, it’s the tandem of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook that deserve fantasy consideration. Keith has yet to find the back of the net this season, but it’s only a matter of time until his shooting percentage rebounds towards his career mark of 4.8%. With that said, he’s dished out 14 assists already this season and shares the duties on the point of the #1 power-play with Seabrook.
After a terrific start to the season, the Oilers hit a rough patch down the stretch and had dropped eight of their last ten games prior to picking up a much needed victory in Dallas on Saturday. This is a young team and these types of swings are to be expected to some degree, but there is no doubt Todd McLellan will be looking for more consistency going forwards. Tonight they’ll face a very tough test as the streaking Chicago Blackhawks invade the Rogers Place. Obviously, breaking down the Oilers has to start with Connor McDavid. The 19 year has already emerged as one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the league and is fresh off of his first career hat trick on Saturday against Dallas. He’s tallied eight goals and added 14 assists in 19 games and is well worth consideration every time he takes the ice. With that said, he’ll likely be shadowed heavily by Jonathan Toews and that’s reason for at least a small downgrade to his fantasy outlook. It looks like he’ll have new linemates tonight as Jesse Puljujarvi and Patrick Maroon are slated to join him on the top line, leaving Jordan Eberle and Leon Draisaitl to skate alongside Drake Caggiula on the second line. On defense, the Oilers haven’t received too much offensive support this season. Oscar Klefbom does see plenty of playing time on the point of the #1 power-play unit which does make him a fine value option thanks to the Blackhawks’ NHL worst 69.5% penalty kill.
Chicago Blackhawks
Team Metrics – 2016-17 – 50.86 CF%, 5×5 Goal Differential 15, 105.06 CP60
Elite Options
Patrick Kane ($8,300 FD, $8,400 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 50.92 CF60, 2.07 xGF60, 105.62 PDO
Duncan Keith ($6,000 FD, $5,500 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 53.63 CF60, 2.23 xGF60, 103.94 PDO
Secondary Options
Artemi Panarin ($7,100 FD, $7,300 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 59.49 CF60, 2.47 xGF60, 110.43 PDO
Jonathan Toews ($6,600 FD, $6,500 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 56.86 CF60, 2.46 xGF60, 103.09 PDO
Artem Anisimov ($5,500 FD, $6,800 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 52.05 CF60, 2.24 xGF60, 111.94 PDO
Richard Panik ($3,600 FD, $5,200 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 54.33 CF60, 2.27 xGF60, 104.47 PDO
Brent Seabrook ($5,400 FD, $5,100 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 59.62 CF60, 2.3 xGF60, 106.04 PDO
Expected Netminder
Corey Crawford – My Ratings (out of 10): 7.5 Cash, 7.5 GPP
Edmonton Oilers
Team Metrics – 2016-17 – 51.73 CF%, 5×5 Goal Differential 3, 109.75 CP60
Elite Options
Connor McDavid ($7,900 FD, $8,200 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 63.6 CF60, 3.23 xGF60, 102.27 PDO
Secondary Options
Jordan Eberle ($6,400 FD, $6,600 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 64.04 CF60, 3.27 xGF60, 98.18 PDO
Leon Draisaitl ($5,000 FD, $4,600 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 55.26 CF60, 2.61 xGF60, 98.48 PDO
Patrick Maroon ($5,000 FD, $5,000 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 63.61 CF60, 3.19 xGF60, 101.86 PDO
Oscar Klefbom ($4,000 FD, $4,500 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 57.69 CF60, 2.78 xGF60, 97.62 PDO
Expected Netminder
Cam Talbot – My Ratings (out of 10): 6 Cash, 6.5 GPP
New Jersey Devils at San Jose Sharks
| New Jersey Devils | San Jose Sharks | ||||||||
 | Keith Kinkaid |  | Martin Jones | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 9-5-3 | 9-8-1 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.35 | 2.24 | 12.50% | 81.60% | Team Stats | 2.28 | 2.33 | 16.10% | 87.00% |
After somewhat unexpectedly rattling off five straight victories, the New Jersey Devils have come back down to earth lately and dropped each of their last two games. They’ll wrap up their west coast road trip tonight in a battle with the San Jose Sharks and, with Taylor Hall and Michael Cammalleri both sidelined, there just isn’t a ton to like here from a fantasy perspective. The Devils are averaging just 2.35 goals per game this season and continue to be one of the slowest paced teams in the NHL (105.12 CP60). The Hall and Cammalleri injuries further thin the Devils upfront, and it’s now just each of their top two lines that really deserve any consideration at all this evening. Travis Zajac is off to a decent start to the season with ten points in 17 games and centers the top forward line alongside P.A. Parenteau and Beau Bennett. That leaves the the talented Adam Henrique to lead Kyle Palmieri and Pavel Zacha on the second line. Henrique has been rather quiet out of the gates, but he has scored a goal and added three assists over the last four games and figures to see a bit more open ice as San Jose will likely attempt lock up the Zajac line with Logan Couture and his pesky defense. On defense, Damon Severson finally looks to be emerging as the offensive threat the New Jersey front office was hoping for when they drafted him in the second round of the 2012 draft. The 22 year-old has scored three goals and added nine assists in 17 games this season and has grabbed the reigns as the point man of the #1 power-play unit. He remains very reasonably priced across the industry and has logged over 20 minutes of playing time in every game this month. San Jose’s impressive 87.0% penalty kill is a small buzz-kill, but he’s still a fine option if you’re searching for some salary relief.
The Sharks looked to have simply fallen apart as they lost the last three games of their six game road trip and should be very pleased to return home to Northern California for tonight’s meeting with the New Jersey Devils. They find themselves sitting two points behind the trio of teams tied for the Pacific Division lead and last years Western Conference champions figure to make a strong push very soon. With a battle against the Blackhawks looming on Wednesday night, San Jose will need to be very careful to not overlook the Devils and that seems unlikely considering Peter DeBoer likely called his team out for their effort against the Arizona Coyotes in their last game. Brent Burns has emerged as one of the top fantasy options in the NHL and is the first player to look on this San Jose team. He’s posted six goals and eight assists in 18 games this season and leads the entire NHL in SOG (80). Up-front, the duo of Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton continue to put up tremendous offensive numbers as linemates on the top forward line. Pavelski leads the team with 16 points and scored his sixth goal of the season (while firing 7 SOG) in Arizona on Saturday. Logan Couture is often tasked with some added defensive responsibilities, but with Taylor Hall out of action for the Devils, that likely won’t be the case this evening. I do expect the Sharks to pick up the win tonight, but just pump the breaks a bit as New Jersey’s slow pace (105.12 CP60) shouldn’t be ignored.
New Jersey Devils
Team Metrics – 2016-17 – 49.42 CF%, 5×5 Goal Differential 1, 105.12 CP60
Elite Options
None
Secondary Options
Adam Henrique ($4,800 FD, $4,200 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 54.17 CF60, 2.17 xGF60, 103.3 PDO
Travis Zajac ($4,600 FD, $4,400 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 60.41 CF60, 2.54 xGF60, 98.16 PDO
Damon Severson ($4,500 FD, $4,600 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 54.52 CF60, 2.17 xGF60, 98.39 PDO
Expected Netminder
Keith Kinkaid – My Ratings (out of 10): 4.5 Cash, 6 GPP
San Jose Sharks
Team Metrics – 2016-17 – 52.47 CF%, 5×5 Goal Differential -6, 111.39 CP60
Elite Options
Joe Pavelski ($7,600 FD, $6,900 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 58.31 CF60, 2.43 xGF60, 101.39 PDO
Brent Burns ($8,100 FD, $8,400 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 63.56 CF60, 3.11 xGF60, 99.12 PDO
Secondary Options
Joe Thornton ($5,100 FD, $5,400 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 57.55 CF60, 2.28 xGF60, 99.83 PDO
Patrick Marleau ($4,700 FD, $4,600 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 56.54 CF60, 2.46 xGF60, 98.16 PDO
Logan Couture ($6,300 FD, $6,100 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 61.28 CF60, 3.15 xGF60, 98.01 PDO
Expected Netminder
Martin Jones – My Ratings (out of 10): 8.5 Cash, 7.5 GPP