NHL Grind Down: Saturday, April 2nd - Page Two
Columbus Blue Jackets at Carolina Hurricanes – 07:00 PM EDT
| Columbus Blue Jackets | Carolina Hurricanes | ||||||||
 | Joonas Korpisalo |  | Cam Ward | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 30-39-8 | 34-28-16 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.49 | 3.08 | 17.10% | 80.80% | Team Stats | 2.44 | 2.64 | 16.90% | 84.10% |
Columbus has turned its gaze towards next year as now it seems that the lines are getting shuffled on a nightly basis. With only 11 pucks ending up in the opponents net over the last six games it seems that even mixing it up isn’t working. Boone Jenner has figured in on five of those goals which would qualify him a decent GPP one-off play tonight. If you are feeling risky you can pair him up with Brandon Dubinsky or Cam Atkinson as they appear to be the only line that has stuck together over the past few weeks. With three goals and four points Brandon Saad is the only other Columbus player with more than one point over the last five games. Such is life when you can’t put the biscuit in the basket.
Carolina still has a slim chance to make the playoffs and look to improve on their 34-28-16 record tonight on home ice. Nothing is ever an easy win for teams in the bottom half of a conference but the Hurricanes should be able to squeeze out a win here against a Columbus team that has given up 241 goals this season. Despite not scoring much of late Jordan Staal and Elias Lindholm should be in play tonight as they get the top power play minutes from the team’s top line. Victor Rask and Jeff Skinner skate on the team’s second line and have a combined seven goals and two assists over the last six games which would put them squarely in play for GPP tournaments tonight. Justin Faulk looks like he is shaking off the rust from his injury and is the choice on defense tonight if you are taking Carolina for GPP play. Remember, just because a game looks like a dog on paper does not mean there won’t be any scoring in it. Look for the Hurricanes to put a few goals in the net tonight.
Elite Plays
CBJ: None
CAR: None
Secondary Plays
CBJ: Boone Jenner, Brandon Dubinsky, Cam Atkinson, Brandon Saad, Seth Jones
CAR: Victor Rask, Jeff Skinner, Jordan Staal, Elias Lindholm, Justin Faulk
Detroit Red Wings at Toronto Maple Leafs – 07:00 PM EDT
| Detroit Red Wings | Toronto Maple Leafs | ||||||||
 | Jimmy Howard |  | Garret Sparks | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 39-28-11 | 28-38-11 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.55 | 2.68 | 19.10% | 81.00% | Team Stats | 2.35 | 2.86 | 15.40% | 80.50% |
Detroit has the unenviable task of trying to keep winning games with the knowledge that they will need some help along the way to qualify for this year’s playoffs. They are currently tied with the Philadelphia Flyers for the eighth and final spot with 89 points. The problem is that the Flyers have six games left on their schedule while they only have four remaining games to play. There is an outside chance that they could catch the Boston Bruins as they are just one point behind them and have to play them on April 7th in Boston, which is one night after they host, you guessed it…the Philadelphia Flyers. All this does is add up to a fun week of hockey where every goal scored could make or break someone’s playoff chances. Dylan Larkin and Pavel Datsyuk have each scored three goals over the last nine games but it is Datsyuk who has been more productive as he has six assists whereas Larkin only has two. Larkin skates on the top line with Henrik Zetterberg and would make a good duo for GPP play tonight as Zetterberg has four points over the last eight games. Gustav Nyquist could be heating up as he has found the score sheet three times over the past two games while getting the top minutes on the team’s first power play unit. Niklas Kronwall continues to man the point on the top power play unit and has an assist in each of the last three games. With Detroit playing last night and being on the road tonight one has to wonder if this team will break down before they reach the finish line.
On their last home stand Toronto went 4-2 and beating teams like Tampa Bay and Anaheim in the process. Their two losses were to Boston and Florida which isn’t bad considering how bad the Leafs have been this year. Toronto has a lot on injuries so maybe sticking with the top line at home against a Detroit team that played last night is the way to go. Nazem Kadri has seven points over the last five games which is more than any two Maple Leafs combined that will play in tonight’s game. Milan Michalek has three assists over the last ten days and is the player to pair with Kadri as they both get top line and top power play duties. Tyler Bozak makes a decent one-off play here as he has tallied three points over the last ten days and gets the top minutes on the power play along with Brad Boyes and defenseman Morgan Rielly. Toronto may score a few goals but outside of the guys listed it’s awfully hard to predict from where.
Elite Plays
DET: None
TOR: None
Secondary Plays
DET: Pavel Datsyuk, Gustav Nyquist, Niklas Kronwall, Henrik Zetterberg, Dylan Larkin
TOR: Nazem Kadri, Milan Michalek, Tyler Bozak, Morgan Rielly
Montreal Canadiens at Florida Panthers – 07:00 PM EDT
| Montreal Canadiens | Florida Panthers | ||||||||
 |  | Roberto Luongo | |||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 43-25-9 | |||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.60 | 2.83 | 16.30% | 82.30% | Team Stats | 2.78 | 2.44 | 16.70% | 80.00% |
Montreal is content on trying to thwart as many team’s playoffs chances as possible as they not only beat Detroit on Tuesday they also beat Florida on Thursday night by a score of 3-0. If they are going to win three games in a row it is more than likely that they will need their top line to produce tonight. Brendan Gallagher returns to skate with Max Pacioretty and Alex Galchenyuk on the top line and top power play unit. This is the line you want to target for GPP play as the Canadiens second line that features Lars Eller and Torrey Mitchell has really seen better days. Tomas Plekanec gets the top power play minutes from the second line and makes a decent one-off play tonight. Andrei Markov soaks up the power play minutes from the point but there are probably better plays on the blue line tonight.
With a win tonight Florida will try to stay on top of the Tampa Bay Lightning for first place in the Atlantic division. Two points separate the two teams with Florida having the upper hand with five games remaining on the schedule. There’s no need to get fancy here as the top line is the choice tonight as Jonathan Huberdeau and Jaromir Jagr each have six points in the last four games while Aleksander Barkov has found the score sheet five times over that time span. Nick Bjugstad and defenseman Aaron Ekblad get the first crack with the top line on the power play but be wary here as they each have just one assist over the last four games. Jussi Jokinen has been productive from the second line with two goals and four points over the last four games.
Elite Plays
MTL: None
FLA: Jonathan Huberdeau
Secondary Plays
MTL: Max Pacioretty, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Galchenyuk, Tomas Plekanec, Andrei Markov
FLA: Jaromir Jagr, Aleksander Barkov, Aaron Ekblad, Jussi Jokinen
San Jose Sharks at Nashville Predators – 08:00 PM EDT
| San Jose Sharks | Nashville Predators | ||||||||
 |  | Pekka Rinne | |||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 43-29-6 | 39-26-13 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.91 | 2.56 | 22.40% | 80.30% | Team Stats | 2.73 | 2.60 | 19.50% | 80.70% |
Now that Tomas Hertl has cooled of we can concentrate on the five guys that make up the team’s top power play unit. Patrick Marleau and Logan Couture each make nice one-off plays here as they have now been split up once again with Couture on the second line and Marleau on the third. Couture leads the team over the past six games with four goals while defenseman Brent Burns leads with eight points. Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton round out the top power play unit by skating on the team’s top line. A lot of people are afraid of Shea Weber and his shut down abilities but he really can’t keep two guys in check at once so taking them tonight is definitely an option. Both Thornton and Pavelski have six points each over the last six games and rank first and second on the team’s scoring list.
Although Nashville has lost their last three games they are in no danger of losing a playoff spot as they are nine points up on Colorado who has five games remaining. What this means is that the Predators would have to lose their remaining four games while Colorado wins all of those five games in regulation. Nashville will try to get back on track tonight as they face the San Jose Sharks on home ice. James Neal makes a superb one-off play here as he has three goals and six points over the last ten days skating from the team’s top line. Ryan Johansen would make a nice compliment to Neal as he has four points over the last six games. The line of Mike Ribeiro, Crag Smith and Filip Forsberg also get the first crack on the team’s top power play unit. Forsberg has five points while the other two have found the score sheet twice each over the last five games. Take your pick on defense as Roman Josi and Shea Weber both make decent plays for cash or GPP plays tonight.
Elite Plays
SJ: Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Brent Burns
NSH: James Neal
Secondary Plays SJ: Patrick Marleau, Logan Couture, Joel Ward NSH: Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi, Shea Weber, Mike Ribeiro
Calgary Flames at Edmonton Oilers – 10:00 PM EDT
| Calgary Flames | Edmonton Oilers | ||||||||
 | Joni Ortio |  | Cam Talbot | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 32-40-6 | 30-42-7 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.71 | 3.18 | 16.50% | 74.30% | Team Stats | 2.41 | 2.94 | 17.50% | 80.50% |
Although both teams did not qualify for the playoffs there still is some potential fantasy value here as neither is any good at playing defense. The Flames have given up a league leading 251 goals while the Oilers have surrendered 234 goals. Johnny Gaudreau is back from injury so putting him with Sean Monahan would seem the logical choice for your GPP plays here. Monahan was doing okay without Gaudreau as he has tallied five points over the last five games. Hunter Shinkaruk is the third wheel on the top line and has two points in his first four NHL games. Joe Colborn makes for a decent one-off GPP play here as he skates on the team’s top power play unit and has registered four points over the last five games. On defense Mark Giordano and Dougie Hamilton are the choices here as both play on the team’s top power play unit with each having at least three points over the last five games.
Edmonton should be able to score tonight as the Calgary Flames pose no threat on their defensive end of the ice. Connor McDavid and Jordan Eberle will no doubt be highly owned tonight as they have combined for four goals and four assists over the last ten days. Patrick Maroon is a decent one-off play here or you can use him with McDavid and Eberle for a full line stack. Maroon has clicked with these two since the get-go as he has 12 points in the last 11 games playing alongside them. Taylor Hall and Leon Draisaitl make decent GPP plays from the second line as they skate with aforementioned two players on the Oilers top power play unit. Jordan Oesterle is the play on the point as he gets all the time he can handle on the team’s top power play unit.
Elite Plays
CGY: Johnny Gaudreau
EDM: Connor McDavid
Secondary Plays
CGY: Sean Monahan, Hunter Shinkaruk, Joe Colborne, Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton
EDM: Jordan Eberle, Patrick Maroon, Taylor Hall, Leon Draisaitl, Jordan Oesterle