NHL Grind Down: Saturday, November 19th
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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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Tampa Bay Lightning at Philadelphia Flyers
| Tampa Bay Lightning | Philadelphia Flyers | ||||||||
 | Ben Bishop |  | Steve Mason | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 11-6-1 | 8-7-3 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 3.17 | 2.50 | 25.70% | 83.90% | Team Stats | 3.33 | 3.44 | 27.00% | 79.20% |
The Tampa Bay Lightning have already started the process of carrying on with Steven Stamkos for the next few months. Although they were outshot by a total of 38-33, they were still able to manage a 4-1 win in Buffalo the other night. The Lightning try to win their fourth straight road win tonight as they visit the defenseless Philadelphia Flyers. Sixty-four goals have found their way into the net the Flyers have defended this year, so it would be safe to say that Tampa can score a few tonight. Nikita Kucherov is a good place to start here, as he has tallied six goals and has added three assists over the last seven games He gets the top minutes on the power play, as well, along with line mates Vladislav Namestnikov and Ondrej Palat. Tyler Johnson has added four points from the second line over the last six games and makes a decent one-off play here on the road. Speaking of one-off plays, Jonathan Drouin has returned to the lineup last game and immediately grabbed an assist while playing on the third line. He also has the extra benefit of skating on the top power play unit along with the top line and defenseman Nikita Nesterov. Victor Hedman has grabbed three assists in the last six games, but I think I’d stick with the cheaper Nesterov here, as he not only scored last game, he gets more opportunities.
One would have to assume that Shayne Gostisbehere will take his spot on the point when the Flyers have the man advantage today. The Ghost was benched last game, and it was very unclear as to why. In this day and age, everyone needs an answer and when they don’t get one, they start making them up. The top line of Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn will be pretty high owned, especially since this game starts at 1pm. Giroux leads the team with 17 points, while each of them have tallied two points on the power play over the last five games. Jakub Voracek joins them from the second line and also has two points of the same variety while grabbing a total of four points over the last five games. Travis Konecny and Sean Couturier are his line mates if you are thinking of going with a second line stack. Mark Streit may stay on the top power play unit, but even if he doesn’t he still makes a serviceable play.
Elite Plays
TB: Nikita Kucherov
PHL: Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds
Secondary Plays
TB: Vladislav Namestnikov, Jonathan Drouin, Nikita Nesterov
PHL: Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds
New Jersey Devils at Los Angeles Kings
| New Jersey Devils | Los Angeles Kings | ||||||||
 | Cory Schneider |  | Peter Budaj | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 9-4-3 | 8-9-1 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.38 | 2.13 | 13.00% | 81.30% | Team Stats | 2.39 | 2.56 | 10.50% | 80.00% |
This game will feature two teams that are very short-handed in terms of superstars being absent from their respective lineups. Taylor Hall is out for at least three weeks which makes the Devils task a bit tougher to put the biscuit in the basket. New Jersey lost in Anaheim the other night by a score of 3-2 and I’d look for the same type of defensive battle today. Travis Zajac and P.A. Parenteau may be the line that the kings try to shut down which would leave Adam Henrique, Kyle Palmieri and rookie Pavel Zacha with a little more room to skate against a secondary defensive Kings line. Henrique does have four points in the last five games but it has been defenseman Damon Severson that has been pretty steady by snagging 12 points in the first 16 games as he anchors the devils top power play line. If you are playing the early slate, you almost have to take someone from the Devils, so it may as well be Severson.
Anze Kopitar was spotted skating on a line with Marian Gaborik yesterday but they were in yellow jerseys on the fourth line. That usually means that they will not play today so we must look elsewhere for our plays today. Jeff carter, Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson are the plays here as they skate on the top line and get most of the power play minutes as well. The Kings finally got back on track last game with a win after losing four straight and through it all Carter and Toffoli have led the team with seven points over the last five games. They have only scored nine goals in those five games so taking Carter and Toffoli in this spot looks like a decent play. Dustin Brown, Nic Dowd and Devin Setoguchi play on the second line and should only be used in GGP plays this afternoon. Jake Muzzin and Drew Doughty man the points on the power play from the back line, but neither has really got it going so far this season. Alec Martinez piled up the points early, but even he has cooled off. That’s what a team not scoring goals will to for you.
Elite Plays
NJ: None
LAK: Jeff Carter
Secondary Plays
NJ: Damon Severson, Travis Zajac, Adam Henrique
LAK: Tyler Toffoli, Tanner Pearson, Drew Doughty
Toronto Maple Leafs at Montréal Canadiens
| Toronto Maple Leafs | Montréal Canadiens | ||||||||
 | Frederik Andersen |  | Carey Price | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 8-6-3 | 13-3-2 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 3.29 | 3.35 | 21.30% | 84.60% | Team Stats | 3.29 | 2.18 | 23.10% | 82.80% |
It’s Saturday night, that must mean it’s Hockey Night in Canada, as the feature game will no doubt be this one. Toronto comes into this one on a modest two-game winning streak as their 8-6-1 record has them in fifth place in the Atlantic division nine points behind the team they play tonight. Although the line of James van Riemsdyk, Mitchell Marner and Tyler Bozak has been the best over the past two weeks the line of Nazem Kadri, Leo Komarov and Connor Brown is gaining steam. Each line has scored seven goals over the last five games, but it has been Bozak’s line that has the advantage in assists by a tally of 11-7. Until Auston Matthews and William Nylander start scoring, it is awfully tough to recommend them here tonight. Jake Gardiner plays the point on the team’s top power play unit, but Morgan Rielly is the play here, as he has five points in his last five games. There are two points worth noting here, the first being Montreal has lost their last three games, while the second is the Maple Leafs have just one win on the road this season.
It’s no coincidence that Montreal has lost their last three games, with Alexander Radulov missing two of them. Radulov is second on the team in scoring and was starting to gel pretty nicely with Alex Galchenyuk, the team’s scoring leader. He may return tonight, as he doesn’t have an injury but was sick enough to miss the last two games. Galchenyuk has tallied five points over the last five games and should be considered a cash game play here on home ice tonight. Max Pacioretty has turned it up a bit as well as the second liner has lit the lamp two times and has collected three assists over the last five games. Defenseman Andrei Markov has surpassed fellow blue liner Shea Weber in points over the last few weeks as he has grabbed seven points over the last five games. Both play the points on the power play and either should make for a decent cash play tonight. Look for Montreal to get back on track against the Maple Leafs in front of a national Canadian television audience tonight.
Elite Plays
TOR: James van Riemsdyk, Mitchell Marner
MTL: Alex Galchenyuk
Secondary Plays
TOR: Tyler Bozak, Morgan Rielly, Nazem Kadri, Leo Komarov
MTL: Max Pacioretty, Andrei Markov, Shea Weber
Florida Panthers at Ottawa Senators
| Florida Panthers | Ottawa Senators | ||||||||
 | Roberto Luongo |  | Craig Anderson | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 8-8-1 | 10-6-1 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.65 | 2.76 | 14.80% | 82.70% | Team Stats | 2.12 | 2.47 | 9.80% | 88.50% |
Had it not been for Jonathan Marchessault being so hot early on, the Florida Panthers could be much worse. They are 8-8-1 and would be on the outside looking in if the playoffs started today. Marchessault has cooled off a bit, as he still leads the team with 14 points but has managed just one assist over the last four games. Aleksander Barkov and Jaromir Jagr have been huge disappointments so far this season, so maybe taking the first lien here isn’t a good idea. What we do have here is a bunch of guys just scoring at random. For instance, Dennis Malgin and defenseman Michael Matheson lead the team with three points over the last four games, but I can’t see anyone scrolling down low enough to roster them on their teams tonight. Vincent Trocheck can be used as a one-off play here for GPP play as he is second on the team in points and plays on the second line. Keith Yandle and Aaron Ekblad get the extra ice time with the man advantage from the point.
Both Mike Hoffman and Bobby Ryan did not skate yesterday and they are listed as day-to-day. The injury bug has hit the NHL hard, as it all of a sudden looks like the NBA with all the injuries and late scratches. This makes it very tough to predict where the scoring may come from let alone trying to figure out who is playing with who. Erik Karlsson is healthy, so we can always take him on the back line if we get stuck as he leads the team with 14 points so far this season. Mark Stone and Derick Brassard can be played as a GPP duo tonight, as they do skate on the same line together as well as see the top minutes on the team’s best power play line. It doesn’t hurt that also have scored a few points over the last five games. Look for Kyle Turris and Ryan Dzingel to be paired up as well as they skate on the team’s top line which should bode well for them tonight. Florida can play some tough defense at times but nothing like they did last year, so expect Ottawa to score a few goals here on home ice.
Elite Plays
Fla: None
OTT: Erik Karlsson
Secondary Plays
FLA: Jonathan Marchessault, Vincent Trocheck, Aaron Ekblad
OTT: Kyle Turris, Ryan Dzingel, Derick Brassard, Mark Stone
Winnipeg Jets at Boston Bruins
| Winnipeg Jets | Boston Bruins | ||||||||
 | Connor Hellebuyck |  | Tuukka Rask | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 9-8-2 | 10-7-0 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.89 | 2.89 | 16.20% | 82.80% | Team Stats | 2.35 | 2.29 | 13.00% | 84.40% |
The Boston Bruins will try to shut own one of the hottest lines in the league, as Nikolaj Ehlers, Mark Scheifele and Patrik Laine have combined for 12 points over the last five games. The Flyers were able to contain them as they lost in Philadelphia on Thursday night by a score of 5-2. Blake Wheeler continues to make a great one-off play much like he did the other night, as he skates on the team’s second line but sees the top minutes of ice time when the jets have the man advantage. Nicolas Petan can be used with Wheeler in GPP plays as they are starting to demonstrate some chemistry from the second line by virtue of finding the scoresheet four times each over the last five games. Dustin Byfuglien continues to struggle on the back line even though he logs over 28 minutes of ice time a night. He does have 51 shots so far this season, so it may be just a matter of time before he breaks out.
With David Pastrnak labeled as day-to-day the Bruins took to the ice on Thursday night and lost to the Minnesota Wild by a score of 1-0. They were outshot by a total of 29-25 and need to rectify that tonight here at home against Winnipeg. The Bruins also need to continue to improve on their 3-3 home record, as they have won their last two games in front of the home crowd. If Pastrnak cannot play, look for Riley Nash to stay on the right wing with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. The second line of Ryan Spooner, David Krejci and David Backes is the play here as they lead the team with a combined 11 points over the last four games. Bergeron joins them on the power play along with defenseman Torey Krug who looks like he could be turning the corner, as he has two of his measly four points in the last four games.
Elite Plays
WIN: Mark Scheifele
BOS: None
Secondary Plays
WIN: Nikolaj Ehlers, Patrik Laine, Blake Wheeler
BOS: Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, Ryan Spooner, David Krejci, David Backes, Torey Krug