NHL Grind Down: Sunday, March 27th
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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New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes – 05:00 PM EDT
| New Jersey Devils | Carolina Hurricanes | ||||||||
 | Keith Kinkaid |  | Eddie Lack | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 36-31-8 | 32-28-15 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.23 | 2.45 | 20.50% | 82.30% | Team Stats | 2.43 | 2.67 | 16.70% | 84.50% |
This would normally be a game to just gloss right over, but on a three game slate, we don’t have that luxury. The Devils will head to Raleigh after losing 1-0 against Washington on Friday and own an NHL worst 2.23 goals per game this season. With that said, Kyle Palmieri has been rolling lately. He may have seen his four game scoring streak snapped in the shutout loss to Washington, but he’s posted six goals and six assists in 12 games this month and is one goal shy of his first career 30 goal season. Alternatively, Adam Henrique, Devante Smith-Pelly and Joseph Blandisi have established themselves as a very capable top scoring line. Henrique has lit the lamp eight times in 12 games this month and Smith-Pelly has taken very kindly to his new team as he’s posted seven goals and four assists in his 11 games wearing a Devils sweater. 21-year old Damon Severson has looked impressive lately on the blue-line. He’s dished out five assists in his last seven games, quarterbacks the top power-play unit, and is still dirt cheap across the industry. If you’re in need of some salary relief, he’s worth a look.
After dropping an overtime decision against the New York Islanders yesterday, the Hurricanes won’t have much time to recover as they welcome the New Jersey Devils to the PNC Arena this afternoon. These two teams have split the first four meetings this season and while it’s likely going to be unappealing to the eyes, the Hurricanes still require some consideration today despite having dropped six of their last seven games. Jeff Skinner leads the team with 18 points (and a somewhat surprising +7) in 24 games since the All-Star break and has already unloaded 231 SOG this season making him arguably the top play here. He scored his 26th goal of the season yesterday and sees plenty of playing time on the #1 power-play unit. Jordan Staal centers that top power-play and has come alive down the stretch; posting 12 goals and 17 assists in his last 35 games. Justin Faulk finally returned to the lineup this week and is locked back into big minutes on the blue-line. He’s tallied 15 goals and 19 assists in 57 games this season and is a dangerous weapon on the point of the power-play. If you’re looking for some cap relief, rookie Noah Hanifin still runs the show from the point of the #1 power-play unit and has tallied four assists in the last four games.
New Jersey Devils
CF%: 46.3, CP60: 91.5, 5×5 Differential: -20
Elite Options: None
Secondary Options: Kyle Palmieri, Adam Henrique, Devante Smith-Pelly, Damon Severson
Carolina Hurricanes
CF%: 51.8, CP60: 107, 5×5 Differential: -20
Elite Options: Jeff Skinner, Jordan Staal
Secondary Options: Victor Rask, Elias Lindholm, Noah Hanifin
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers – 07:30 PM EDT
| Pittsburgh Penguins | New York Rangers | ||||||||
 | Marc-Andre Fleury |  | Antti Raanta | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 41-25-8 | 43-24-8 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.81 | 2.43 | 17.90% | 83.50% | Team Stats | 2.85 | 2.59 | 19.50% | 77.70% |
After a disappointing effort in a 3-0 loss to New Jersey on Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins took out their frustrations on the Detroit Red Wings in a big way yesterday afternoon; dismantling the Wings 7-2. Sidney Crosby has exploded since the All-Star break and looks poised to lead this Pittsburgh team to the playoffs once again while Evgeni Malkin is sidelined. Crosby has posted 14 goals, 22 assists and a plus 20 in 26 games since the break and owns two goals and an assist in the three prior meetings with New York this season. He’ll be joined by Chris Kunitz and Patric Hornqvist on the top line with Phil Kessel and Carl Hagelin surrounding Nick Bonino on the second line. However, with the Rangers sporting an ugly 77.7% penalty kill, it’s the Pittsburgh power-play that I’ll be targeting. Crosby is the focal point and will play alongside Patric Hornqvist, Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel up-front with Kris Letang running things from the point. Kessel is fresh off a five-point outburst against Detroit and his mediocre season and lowered his asking price. If you can’t afford Letang on the blue-line, but Trevor Daley and Justin Schultz also see a healthy dose of playing time with the man advantage. Daley has racked up two goals and three assists in the last four games and logged over 27 minutes of playing time yesterday afternoon.
The Rangers have won three straight games and will look to keep things rolling as the Pittsburgh Penguins invade Madison Square Garden. They’ve posted an impressive 25-8-3 home record this season and can create some breathing room over the Penguins if they can pick up two points tonight. Alain Vigneault now has three very capable scoring lines at his disposal and will rely on all three to provide some offense tonight. Both Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello are tied atop the team leaderboard with 57 points this season, and both players have thrived on home ice. Brassard has scored 20 goals and added 20 assists (and a plus 17) in 35 home games this season and centers the top line alongside sniper Rick Nash and Chris Kreider. Meanwhile, Zuccarello joins forces with Derek Stepan and J.T. Miller on the second line. Stepan scored a goal and added an assist against Montreal yesterday and has not only dished out three assists in the three prior meetings with Pittsburgh this season, but also owns four goals and nine assists in the last 11 games. Ryan McDonagh and Keith Yandle both see heavy minutes with the man-advantage and are fine options on the blue-line tonight. Alternatively, Kevin Klein picked up yet another assist yesterday and has now somewhat surprisingly racked up two goals and seven assists in his last nine games.
Pittsburgh Penguins
CF%: 52.8, CP60: 109.3, 5×5 Differential: 24
Elite Options: Sidney Crosby, Patric Hornqvist, Kris Letang
Secondary Options: Phil Kessel, Chris Kunitz, Carl Hagelin, Trevor Daley, Justin Schultz
New York Rangers
CF%: 47.1, CP60: 107.6, 5×5 Differential: 34
Elite Options: Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello, Derek Stepan, Keith Yandle
Secondary Options: Chris Kreider, Rick Nash, Ryan McDonagh, Kevin Klein
Chicago Blackhawks at Vancouver Canucks – 08:00 PM EDT
| Chicago Blackhawks | Vancouver Canucks | ||||||||
 | Scott Darling |  | Ryan Miller | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 42-25-7 | 27-34-13 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.76 | 2.47 | 22.00% | 78.80% | Team Stats | 2.23 | 2.84 | 16.70% | 82.30% |
The Blackhawks cruised to an easy win in Calgary last night and will head to Vancouver tonight in search of two more points. They shutout the Canucks 4-0 in their last meeting and will likely be the most popular selections of the evening in cash games. Patrick Kane has been quiet by his standards lately, but still leads the entire NHL in points and sits just seven points shy of his the first 100 point season of his career. He’ll skate alongside Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov on one line, leaving Jonathan Toews to center Marian Hossa and Andrew Ladd on the top forward line. On defense, the duo of Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith have both eclipsed the 40 point plateau and are top tier options on the blue-line tonight.
The Canucks have now dropped seven straight games and sit tied with the New Jersey Devils with an NHL worst 2.26 goals per game this season. With the defending Stanley Cup champions coming to town, it’s difficult to get too excited about anything from Vancouver. The Sedin twins are easily the top options on this team and are really the only two players I’ll consider in cash games. Daniel Sedin leads the team with 59 points in 74 games and has teamed up with his brother to combine for four goals and five assists against the Blackhawks in their two prior meetings this season. They’ll be joined by Jannik Hansen on the top forward line but temper your expecations as they’ll likely see a very heavy dose of the pesky defense from the Hossa/Ladd/Toews line. On defense, Ben Hutton and Dan Hamhuis are locked into huge minutes with Alex Edler sidelined. Both players have posted modest offensive numbers lately, see a healthy dose of playing time on the power-play and carry very reasonable price-tags.
Chicago Blackhawks
CF%: 51, CP60: 109.6, 5×5 Differential: -2
Elite Options: Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Artemi Panarin, Duncan Keith
Secondary Options: Marian Hossa, Andrew Ladd, Artem Anisimov, Brent Seabrook
Vancouver Canucks
CF%: 47, CP60: 104.6, 5×5 Differential: -27
Elite Options: None
Secondary Options: Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Jannik Hansen, Sven Baertschi, Ben Hutton