NHL Grind Down: Saturday, January 21st - Page Three

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Colorado Avalanche at San Jose Sharks

Colorado Avalanche San Jose Sharks
Article Image Semyon Varlamov Article Image Martin Jones
Record Record
13-29-1 28-16-2
Stats GF/GP GA/GP PP% PK% Stats GF/GP GA/GP PP% PK%
Team Stats 2.02 3.35 14.20% 78.70% Team Stats 2.61 2.28 16.60% 82.80%

There’s not much more we can say about Colorado than we have already said. They are the worst team in the league with 27 points, they have not reached 90 goals yet as a team through 43 games and they have given up 145 goals which is fourth next to Winnipeg, Dallas and Arizona. They are 2-14 in their last 16 games. This means they have only received four points over that time frame as none of their losses were either in overtime or a shootout. That’s tough to do these days. You will see a lot of San Jose players in your cash and tournament plays tonight. The line of Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Ranatanen and Rene Bourque will likely have the targets on the back as the line that San Jose would like to shut down. MacKinnon leads the team with 31 points while Rantanen is still getting his feet wet although he has tallied seven of his 18 points with the man advantage. If there is anyone I’d look at for tournament plays it would be Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog who skate on the teams’ second line. They have accounted for four of the team’s last ten goals and they should have a little room on the ice being the away team tonight. Then again Colorado could get shut out here so as you can see there is nothing optimal about the situation this team has put itself in. Tyson Barrie is the only thing that resembles a playable defenseman as he is third on the team with 23 points. There are plenty of games on the slate so you can’t say you don’t have other options to look at tonight.

AVALANCHE UPDATE

Tyson Barrie is now a game time decision and Rene Bourque will not dress for tonight’s game. This actually helps Colorado as they surely have a younger player than the 33 year old Bourque who is about to be put out to pasture.

Okay, now we get to the easy stuff. San Jose is in the same spot as Edmonton is in where the playoffs are concerned. They are possibly the easiest team to break down as well. Are you ready? Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau make up the first line while Logan Couture centers the second line with Mikkel Boedker and Kevin Labanc. Couture moves up with top line along with defenseman Brent Burns to form the top power play unit that sees almost all of the ice time when the Ducks draw a penalty. This is why those five players lead the team in scoring with Joel ward sitting in sixth place with 17 points on the Ducks scoring chart. Burns is the most offensive defenseman you can find as the leads the team with 19 goals and 28 assists. Pavelski leads the team with 15 power play points while Couture has seven power play goals, which is also tops on the team. You can almost mix and match these guys anyway you want as they will no doubt have plenty of opportunity against a team that has given up eight power play goals over their last eight games. All aboard!!

Elite Plays

COL: None
SJ: Brent Burns, Joe Pavelski

Secondary Plays

COL: Nathan MacKinnon, Matt Duchene, Tyson Barrie, Gabriel Landeskog
SJ: Joe Thornton, Logan Couture, Patrick Marleau

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About the Author

elctrceye
Tom Woollam (elctrceye)

Tom Woollam is a freelance DFS writer and has been a member here at RotoGrinders.com since December 2011. He has played Fantasy Sports for the last 30 years and has been in the daily fantasy sports game for the last four. You can find him on twitter @elctrceye.