NHL Grind Down: Sunday, October 16th
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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NOTE: Listed team records/statistics are from 2015/16 season.
Anaheim Ducks at New York Islanders
| Anaheim Ducks | New York Islanders | ||||||||
 | John Gibson |  | Jaroslav Halak | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 46-25-11 | 45-27-10 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.62 | 4.00 | 23.10% | 87.20% | Team Stats | 2.77 | 5.00 | 18.30% | 84.50% |
The Anaheim Ducks come into this one fresh off a game last night in Pittsburgh, as well as playing three games in the last four nights. It’s just as bad for the New York Islanders, as they played against a tough Washington team last night hot on the heels of losing 5-3 to the New York Rangers on home ice Thursday night. For the Ducks, it’s the same usual suspects as Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf create the most offense almost on a nightly basis. Your one-off here is second liner Jakob Silfverberg, as he skates with Andrew Cogliano and Ryan Kesler but is blessed enough to play on the team’s top power play unit. I am not opposed to playing that whole second line either on a small slate like today. Sami Vatanen and Cam Fowler play the points on the power play from the blue line, but it’s Vatanen for me, as he is easily the better offensive defenseman.
The Islanders played a gritty brand of hockey last night in Washington, so tonight’s task is to keep it going. The top line of John Tavares, Andrew Ladd and Jason Chimera should find itself with a bit more room to maneuver here on home ice. The second line, however, makes a decent GPP play, as newcomer Mathew Barzal, Anders Lee and Ryan Strome compromise the team’s second line but, more importantly, saw some significant time on the power play last night. Strome actually tallied the Islanders’ first goal via the man advantage. Your choices on defense are either Nick Leddy or Johnny Boychuk. Both are decent plays, and both are priced at $4,700 on FanDuel, so the choice is yours.
Elite Plays
ANA: Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf
NYI: John Tavares
Secondary Plays
ANA: Jakob Silfverberg, Sami Vatanen, Cam Fowler, Ryan Kesler
NYI: Andrew Ladd, Nick Leddy, Johnny Boychuk
Buffalo Sabres at Edmonton Oilers
| Buffalo Sabres | Edmonton Oilers | ||||||||
 | Robin Lehner |  | Cam Talbot | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 35-36-11 | 31-43-8 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.43 | 4.00 | 18.90% | 82.60% | Team Stats | 2.43 | 3.50 | 18.10% | 81.10% |
The good news for the Buffalo Sabres is that it looks like Kyle Okposo may suit up for tonight’s game. With the injury to Jack Eichel and the absence of Okposo, the Sabres looked like a very depleted team last Thursday at home against the Montreal Canadiens. Now throw in the rib injury to Evander Kane, and this team quickly becomes a mess. The Oilers have taken ten minor penalties in the first two games against the Calgary Flames, so look for the Sabres to get a few cracks on the five on four. Rasmus Ristolainen should lead the charge here, as he posted 21 of his 41 points last year with the man advantage. If we are to assume Buffalo will score on the power play, you need the top line of Okposo, Ryan O’Reilly, and Sam Reinhart, along with third line winger Tyler Ennis. It is for this reason that Ennis makes a decent one-off play on the three-game slate. The second line of Matt Moulson, Zemgus Girgensons, and Hudson Fasching are GPP plays only.
Edmonton at home against a beleaguered Buffalo team is my bet for most owned team of the night. Connor McDavid and Jordan Eberle are the clear chalk on tonight’s short slate, especially on home ice. Line mate Milan Lucic, Leon Draisaitl, and defenseman Andrej Sekera complete the team’s top power play unit. I’m not opposed to using Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Benoit Pouliot as they anchor the second line, which should also have plenty of opportunities. Oscar Klefbom is another viable option on the back line. If you want to get a bit tricky, roster the third line of Draisaitl, Patrick Maroon, and Jesse Puljujarvi. It is off-the-board plays like this that can take down a GPP on a three-game slate. Draisaitl has two goals and two assists, while his line mates have a goal apiece.
Elite Plays
BUF: None
EDM: Connor McDavid
Secondary Plays
BUF: Ryan O’Reilly, Kyle Okposo, Rasmus Ristolainen
EDM: Jordan Eberle, Leon Draisaitl, Milan Lucic, Andrej Sekera
Carolina Hurricanes at Vancouver Canucks
| Carolina Hurricanes | Vancouver Canucks | ||||||||
 | Cam Ward |  | Ryan Miller | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 35-31-16 | 31-38-13 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.39 | 5.00 | 16.80% | 84.30% | Team Stats | 15.80% | 81.10% | ||
The Hurricanes come into this one after blowing a three goal third period lead in Winnipeg on Thursday night. They travel to Vancouver for tonight’s game to play a Canucks team that has not resembled anything like a good hockey team as of late. The top line of Lee Stempniak, Jeff Skinner, and Victor Rask combined for three goals and two assists in the game against Winnipeg, so there’s no reason in the world to think they can’t at least score a goal tonight against the Canucks. Defensemen Noah Hanifan and Justin Faulk appear to be getting most of the power play minutes from the point, so taking Faulk here may not be a bad idea. The third line, which features Sebastion Aho, Teuvo Teravainen, and Elias Lindholm may be the GPP winner here, as it received the most power play time in the team’s first game. It’s not like these guys can’t play, as Teravainen came over from the Blackhawks and Lindholm has responded well when given the chance.
Vancouver has been a one line team for a very long time, which would probably explain their absence from the playoffs in two of the last three years. The top line of Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin, and Loui Eriksson are easily the chalk for this game, so we may need to look elsewhere to compete in GPP contests tonight. Brandon Sutter centers the second line with Jannik Hansen and Brendan Gaunce, but it just may be third liners Jake Virtanen or Bo Horvat as they skate on the lower lines but will get to see minimal extra time on the second power play unit. Ben Hutton and Alexander Edler are your defensive choices, as they man the points with the top line when the Canucks have the man advantage.
Elite Plays:
CAR: None
VAN: Daniel Sedin
Secondary Plays
CAR: Jeff Skinner, Lee Stempniak, Victor Rask, Elias Lindholm, Teuvo Teravainen, Justin Faulk
VAN: Henrik Sedin, Loui Eriksson, Alexander Edler, Ben Hutton