NHL Grind Down: Saturday, April 9th

by Tom Woollam (elctrceye) Last Updated 2016-10-14 19:00:06

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.

Ottawa Senators at Boston Bruins – 12:30 PM EDT

Ottawa Senators					Boston Bruins
			Andrew Hammond					Tuukka Rask
			Record					Record
			37-35-9					42-30-9
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	2.77	2.96	15.80%	75.40%	Team Stats	2.90	2.74	20.90%	82.20%

The Ottawa Senators can play the role of spoiler with a win in Boston this afternoon. Regardless of what Boston does the Philadelphia Flyers still control their own destiny but the problem is the Bruins need to keep winning and hope either Detroit or Philadelphia get tripped up. The second line of Mike Hoffman, Mika Zibanejad and Ryan Dzingel are the play on the road especially Hoffman who has four points over the last ten days and gets the first shot on the team’s power play unit. Zibanejad isn’t bad to pair with either as he has lit the lamp twice in the last five games to go along with an assist. Defenseman Erik Karlsson is always in play if you can afford him as he not only leads the team in scoring he also has scored two goals for a total of five points over the last five games. Fellow defenseman Cody Ceci has the same exact numbers as Karlsson and could be a serviceable punt play if you like past performance at a cheap price.

Boston needs to win this game to at least have a shot at grabbing one of the last playoff spots that are up for grabs and should have no problem rolling over the defensively challenged Ottawa Senators on home ice tonight. The top line that features Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron make excellent cash plays tonight as the both have three goals to go along with two assists in the last five games. However it has been David Krejci and Loui Eriksson who have had the hot hands over the last five games. While playing on the top power play unit Krejci has accumulated seven points while Eriksson is right on his heels with three goals and three assists. Torey Krug is the play on defense as he has a goal and six assists over the last ten days while quarterbacking the team’s top power play unit. Expect Boston to come out firing on all cylinders.

Elite Plays

OTT: Erik Karlsson
BOS: David Krejci, Loui Eriksson

Secondary Plays

OTT: Mike Hoffman, Mika Zibanejad, Bobby Ryan, Zack Smith
BOS: Torey Krug, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, Ryan Spooner

Detroit Red Wings at New York Rangers – 12:30 PM EDT

Detroit Red Wings					New York Rangers
			Jimmy Howard					Antti Raanta
			Record					Record
			41-29-11					45-27-9
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	2.56	2.67	18.70%	81.40%	Team Stats	2.84	2.63	18.80%	78.20%

Here’s another early game that has major playoff implications as the Detroit Red Wings are stick in a three way battle with Boston and Philadelphia for the last two playoff spots in the Eastern conference. The red Wings have been scoring some goals of late but it’s been awfully hard to predict where they may be coming from. The top line of Justin Abdelkader, Dylan Larkin, Henrik Zetterberg have just one goal and two assists between them over the last five games. Pavel Datsyuk makes a good one-off play here as he has found the scoresheet three times over the past two weeks but maybe the most intriguing play is Gustav Nyquist as he gets minutes on the team’s top power play unit and has scored two goals and an assist in the last five games. Niklas Kronwall is the choice on defense in terms of ice time but Mike Green has the same stats as Nyquist over the last ten days.

The Rangers can make a case for third place in the Atlantic with a win here which would put some pressure on the Islanders, who have two games left vs the Rangers one game remaining. Both teams have 99 points with the Islanders having the upper hand. Derek Stepan is the hottest player the Rangers have as he has four goals and five assists in the last five games with line mate Chris Kreider right behind him with five points over the last ten days. Both play on the team’s top power play unit along with derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello and defenseman Keith Yandle. All make good plays tonight against a Detroit team that should be a little tired as this is third game over the last four days.

Elite Plays

DET: None
NYR: Derek Stepan

Secondary Plays

DET: Gustav Nyquist, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Dylan Larkin, Mike Green, Niklas Kronwall
NYR: Mats Zuccarello, Keith Yandle, Derick Brassard, Chris Kreider

Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers – 03:00 PM EDT

Pittsburgh Penguins					Philadelphia Flyers
			Matt Murray					Steve Mason
			Record					Record
			48-25-8					39-27-14
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	2.96	2.42	18.50%	84.30%	Team Stats	2.54	2.59	18.30%	80.20%

Pittsburgh once again gets to play the role of spoiler as they try to ruin the Flyers plans to make the playoffs. Sidney Crosby is always in play as he had lit the lamp four times and has added three assists over the last ten days but the line for cash game play is probably the second one here on the road. Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel have scored a combined nine goals and six assists over the last ten days. If you are looking for a one-off here it is Kessel as he skates with Crosby on the team’s top power play line. Kris Letang has a new power play partner in Trevor Daley so stick with Letang here as he has nine points in his last six games. Matt Cullen has found something here as he has four goals and seven points in his last six games.

If you live in the Philadelphia area you already have seen this script before many times. They play just good enough to get you interested and then come out and throw up a couple of duds. If the Flyers are going to make the playoffs this season the top line of Brayden Schenn, Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds need to come up big tonight. Simmonds has four goals and six points over the last ten days while Schenn has and even two apiece. Giroux and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere have two assists over the last five games and will need to step it up today if the Flyers have any chance of getting into the year-end tournament. Jakub Voracek is your one-off here as he skates on the team’s second line but receives the majority of the minutes on the team’s top power play unit.

Elite Plays

PIT: Kris Letang, Sidney Crosby
PHL: Wayne Simmonds

Secondary Plays

PIT: Phil Kessel, Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino
PHL: Claude Giroux, Brayden Schenn, Shayne Gostisbehere, Jakub Voracek

Anaheim Ducks at Colorado Avalanche – 05:30 PM EDT

Anaheim Ducks					Colorado Avalanche
			Frederik Andersen					Semyon Varlamov
			Record					Record
			44-25-11					39-38-4
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	2.60	2.31	23.00%	87.10%	Team Stats	2.58	2.90	18.10%	80.70%

There’s still a chance for the Ducks to claim the top spot in the Pacific division but they will need three points over their next two games and a Kings loss to accomplish it. Colorado has dropped seven of their last eight games and look to be no match for Anaheim today even though the game is in Colorado. The second line that features Ryan Kesler and Jakob Silverberg has been finding the scoresheet very frequently over the last ten days as Kesler has seven points while Silverberg has five over that time period. The top line of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Jamie McGinn make for a great cash game option as well as they also get the first crack on the team’s top power play unit. Cam Fowler is the choice on defense and could come at a cheap price across the industry.

Colorado has scored just 15 goals in their last eight games and has admittedly not looked good since the have been eliminated from the playoffs. Mikkel Boedker and Matt Duchene play on the top line while Gabriel Landeskog and Jarome Iginla get the first shot when the team goes to the power play. All of these players have tallied three points over the last five games. Tyson Barrie is usually reliable on the back line but now that the Avalanche are out of the playoffs, it’s tough to trust anyone on this team with 14 other games on the slate today.

Elite Plays

ANA: Corey Perry
COL: None

Secondary Plays

ANA: Ryan Getzlaf, Jamie McGinn, Cam Fowler, Ryan Kesler, Jakob Silverberg
COL: Mikkel Boedker, Matt Duchene, Gabriel Landeskog, Jarome Iginla, Carl Soderberg, Tyson Barrie

Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens – 07:00 PM EDT

Tampa Bay Lightning					Montreal Canadiens
			Ben Bishop
			Record					Record
			46-30-5
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	2.74	2.38	15.90%	84.10%	Team Stats	2.60	2.85	16.20%	81.70%

Tampa Bay has second place in the Atlantic division all wrapped up as they enter their game in Montreal against the Canadiens. 21 year old baby Jonathan Drouin has decided to play for the Lightning now that Steven Stamkos is on the shelf and they just may need some of his scoring prowess as they head into the playoffs. He did after all get the game winner the other night against the Devils as he skates with Alex Killorn and Vladimir Namestnikov. Nikita Kucherov is the one-off play here as he skates on the team’s top line and has scored one goal to go along with four assists over the last five games. Victor Hedman may return to the ice as well so look for him to be on the top power play unit as he makes a nice choice on the back line tonight.

Max Pacioretty is a decent play here on home ice as he skates on the team’s first line and has six points over the last five games. It’s a shame he couldn’t do this all season as that was exactly what Montreal needed to stay in playoff contention. Instead the Canadiens are setting up their tee times for April and will be able to watch the Stanley Cup playoffs from the comfort of their own homes. Brendan Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuk compliment Pacioretty on the top line while Tomas Plekanec and defenseman Andrei Markov join them on the top power play unit. Plekanec has four points over the last ten days while Gallagher and Galchenyuk each have three. Stick with these five players on home ice tonight.

Elite Plays

TB: Nikita Kucherov
MTL: Max Pacioretty

Secondary Plays

TB: Ondrej Palat, Tyler Johnson, Victor Hedman, Jonathan Drouin
MTL: Tomas Plekanec, Alex Galchenyuk, Brendan Gallagher, Andrei Markov

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