NHL Grind Down: Thursday, December 15th
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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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Chicago Blackhawks at New York Islanders
| Chicago Blackhawks | New York Islanders | ||||||||
 | Scott Darling |  | Jaroslav Halak | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 19-8-4 | 11-12-5 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.61 | 2.26 | 16.50% | 72.70% | Team Stats | 2.57 | 2.96 | 12.70% | 81.40% |
Chicago has been seemingly treading water for the last few weeks, but they finally saw their captain return to the lineup on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. The team responded with a great 60 minute effort and walked away with two points in what was a very entertaining hockey game against the cross-town New York Rangers. They’ll make the short trip over the East River looking to extend their winning streak to three games. They’ll face a New York Islanders team that is off to a disastrous start and not only find themselves with the worst record in the Eastern Conference but whose 2.80 xGA60 also happens to be the second worst mark in the entire NHL. All of the above adds up to the Blackhawks being a solid Vegas favorite this evening and that also means they’ll receive plenty of attention from fantasy players. With Toews back in the lineup, Coach Queneville can finally return his forward lines to we’ve grown used to over the past two seasons. Toews will join Marian Hossa (and Ryan Hartman) on one line with Patrick Kane leading Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov on another. With Toews and Hossa likely being tasked with trying to hold John Tavares in check, the Kane/Panarin/Anisimov trio looks to have more offensive upside. On defense, both Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook are about as steady of options as you can ask for in cash games. Both players log heavy workloads and share the point duties on the #1 power-play unit. Keith has still yet to find the back of the net this season, but he’s unloaded 69 shots on goal and it’s only a matter of time until his shooting percentage creeps back towards its career mark of 4.7%.
As I mentioned above, the Islanders have easily been one of the most disappointing teams thus far in the 2016-17 season. After posting 100+ points in each of the last two seasons, they’re currently on pace for just 79 points this season and any hopes of another playoff birth are quickly dwindling. They’ve dropped each of their last two games and were defeated by the Blackhawks in both of their meetings last season but they do still possess too much firepower to ignore completely. John Tavares is easily the Islander’s top fantasy option; he’s a bit behind the scoring pace he set last year, but still owns a solid 22 points in 28 games this season. He’s slated to be joined Josh Bailey and Brock Nelson on the top forward line but that trio figures to draw a very heavy dose of the suffocating defense of Marian Hossa and Jonathan Toews. This makes all three tough to trust in cash games and puts them on my “GPP only” list this evening. Behind those three, Jack Capuano just hasn’t been able to generate any consistent secondary scoring. Anders Lee has put up solid numbers in the past and looks to be heating up with three goals and a pair of assists in the last five games which makes him an option if you’re looking for salary relief. On the blue-line, Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuck will both look to take advantage of Chicago’s NHL worst penalty kill as the quarterback’s of the New York power-play. Leddy spent the first four years of his career with this Blackhawks team and is my preferred target of the two.
Chicago Blackhawks
Team Metrics – 2016-17 – 50.11 CF%, 5×5 Goal Differential 18, 107.56 CP60
Elite Options
Patrick Kane ($8,600 FD, $7,700 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 54.21 CF60, 2.2 xGF60, 102.73 PDO
Artemi Panarin ($7,200 FD, $6,700 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 59.17 CF60, 2.35 xGF60, 106.2 PDO
Duncan Keith ($6,300 FD, $5,300 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 54.03 CF60, 2.24 xGF60, 102.88 PDO
Secondary Options
Jonathan Toews ($6,900 FD, $6,200 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 58.51 CF60, 2.5 xGF60, 101.93 PDO
Marian Hossa ($6,500 FD, $6,000 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 56.2 CF60, 2.49 xGF60, 101.83 PDO
Artem Anisimov ($6,600 FD, $6,500 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 54.15 CF60, 2.35 xGF60, 107.87 PDO
Brent Seabrook ($5,800 FD, $4,700 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 57.94 CF60, 2.18 xGF60, 104.53 PDO
Expected Netminder
Scott Darling – My Ratings (out of 10): 7 Cash, 7.5 GPP
New York Islanders
Team Metrics – 2016-17 – 45.81 CF%, 5×5 Goal Differential 0, 119.16 CP60
Elite Options
None
Secondary Options
John Tavares ($8,200 FD, $6,900 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 58.04 CF60, 2.79 xGF60, 101.5 PDO
Brock Nelson ($5,300 FD, $5,000 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 53.28 CF60, 2.8 xGF60, 103.81 PDO
Nick Leddy ($4,700 FD, $4,400 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 51.31 CF60, 2.29 xGF60, 98.33 PDO
Expected Netminder
Jaroslav Halak – My Ratings (out of 10): 5 Cash, 6 GPP
Anaheim Ducks at Boston Bruins
| Anaheim Ducks | Boston Bruins | ||||||||
 | John Gibson |  | Anton Khudobin | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 15-10-5 | 16-12-3 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.73 | 2.67 | 23.50% | 80.60% | Team Stats | 2.32 | 2.39 | 13.20% | 86.40% |
After sweeping a three game home stand to close out last week, Anaheim started off their daunting six-game road trip with a dud in Dallas on Tuesday as they were easily swept aside by the Stars in a 6-2 decision. Despite that loss, they still sit right in the thick of things for the lead in the Pacific Division and will look to put an end to their road woes (5-6-4 road record) tonight in Beantown. Up-front, Anaheim’s scoring is dominated by each of it’s top two lines. As you’d probably expect, both Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry lead the charge offensively and are one of the most dangerous duo’s in the NHL on their top line. They’ve combined for 10 goals and 39 assists already this season and it’s been Rickard Rakell proving to be the biggest beneficiary in their playmaking skills as the third wheel on that top line. Rakell remains very reasonably priced on many sites despite pouring in 11 goals and adding six assists in just 19 games this season. Those three have proven to be somewhat matchup proof throughout the season, but Claude Julien figures to utilize the last line change to shadow them all over the ice with the very defensively sound trio of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron and David Backes. With that in mind, the second line headlined by Ryan Kesler who is set to center Andrew Cogliano and Jakob Silfverberg should see a bit more open ice. Kesler is quietly having a terrific season and now owns 12 goals and 13 assists in 30 games this season. On the blue-line, things are pretty crowded for the Ducks. Cam Fowler and Sami Vatanen have proven to be the most consistent fantasy producers, but Hampus Lindholm and Shea Theodore have flashed plenty of upside at times as well. Fowler and Vatanen see the lions share of the work with the #1 power-play and are therefore the top options, but keep your expectations in check a bit as Boston has posted an impressive 87.9% penalty kill this season.
The Boston Bruins dropped an overtime decision to the Pittsburgh Penguins last night, but won’t have much time to lick their wounds as they travel home for tonight’s clash with the visiting Anaheim Ducks. Considering the pace of last night’s game, tired legs are a big concern for me this evening for Boston so I won’t be getting too carried away with my exposure here. With that said, the Ducks are the second most penalized team in the entire NHL (12:12 PIM/G), so I’ll be narrowing down my potential targets to the roughly eight Bruins who see consistent playing time with the man advantage. David Pastrnak scored yet another goal last night (and added an assist) and has now tallied 19 goals and seven assists in just 26 games. He was recently bumped down to the second forward line in an effort to get David Krejci jump-started and it seems to be paying off as Krejci found the back of the net last night as well. Both Krejci and Pastrnak join David Backes and Patrice Bergeron up-front on the #1 power-play unit, leaving Brad Marchand to headline the second unit. On defense, Torey Krug holds the reigns as the quarterback of that #1 power-play unit and is the top options. He’s somehow only scored one goal on 93 shots this season, but some better fortune seems inevitable for the 25 year-old.
Anaheim Ducks
Team Metrics – 2016-17 – 49.56 CF%, 5×5 Goal Differential 0, 108.07 CP60
Elite Options
Ryan Getzlaf ($7,600 FD, $6,600 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 53.5 CF60, 2.65 xGF60, 97.77 PDO
Corey Perry ($7,300 FD, $6,800 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 57.74 CF60, 2.79 xGF60, 99.29 PDO
Secondary Options
Ryan Kesler ($7,000 FD, $6,700 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 57.11 CF60, 2.88 xGF60, 101.15 PDO
Rickard Rakell ($5,800 FD, $6,400 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 48.53 CF60, 2.09 xGF60, 104.86 PDO
Jakob Silfverberg ($5,800 FD, $5,800 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 55.58 CF60, 2.76 xGF60, 102.45 PDO
Sami Vatanen ($5,300 FD, $4,600 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 57.39 CF60, 2.79 xGF60, 102.71 PDO
Cam Fowler ($5,100 FD, $5,400 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 54.84 CF60, 2.84 xGF60, 100 PDO
Expected Netminder
John Gibson – My Ratings (out of 10): 6.5 Cash, 7 GPP
Boston Bruins
Team Metrics – 2016-17 – 54.21 CF%, 5×5 Goal Differential 1, 112.34 CP60
Elite Options
David Pastrnak ($6,900 FD, $7,200 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 73.18 CF60, 3.24 xGF60, 104.08 PDO
Secondary Options
Patrice Bergeron ($6,500 FD, $6,000 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 70.54 CF60, 2.54 xGF60, 98.45 PDO
Brad Marchand ($7,000 FD, $6,300 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 73.34 CF60, 3.01 xGF60, 99.08 PDO
David Krejci ($5,700 FD, $5,800 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 60.57 CF60, 2.41 xGF60, 98.3 PDO
David Backes ($5,700 FD, DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 61 CF60, 2.66 xGF60, 99.32 PDO
Torey Krug ($5,600 FD, $5,000 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 66.6 CF60, 2.55 xGF60, 98.34 PDO
Expected Netminder
Tuukka Rask – My Ratings (out of 10): 6.5 Cash, 7 GPP
Arizona Coyotes at Toronto Maple Leafs
| Arizona Coyotes | Toronto Maple Leafs | ||||||||
 | Mike Smith |  | Frederik Andersen | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 10-14-5 | 11-11-6 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.21 | 3.10 | 14.30% | 81.00% | Team Stats | 2.89 | 2.96 | 18.80% | 83.90% |
Don’t be fooled by their 4-1 victory in Detroit on Tuesday night, Arizona is still going to finish as one of the worst teams in the NHL this season. They’ll head to Toronto in the cellar of the Pacific Division and owning an ugly 4-9-3 record away from the desert this season. Arizona is averaging a Western Conference low 2.22 goals per game this season and are tough to trust in cash games in such a busy slate, but they do have a fine matchup on tap as Toronto has surrendered 2.96 goals per game and push the action more than any other team in the NHL. Oliver Ekman-Larsson found his way back onto the scoresheet with an assist on Tuesday night and now owns five goals and nine assists in 29 games this season. That’s actually a bit behind the scoring pace we’ve grown accustomed to with the 25 year-old, but he oozes offensive talent and quarterback’s the Coyote’s #1 power-play unit. Up-front, Dave Tippett has two capable scoring lines at his disposal but it’s been the duo of Martin Hanzal and Radim Vrbata doing most of the damage. Vrbata leads the team with 19 points and offers a stable floor thanks to his ability to put the puck on the net (86 SOG). The loss of Max Domi was a significant blow to their forward depth, but veteran Shane Doan is still more than capable of providing some secondary scoring alongside Tobias Rieder and Jordan Martinook on the second line. It’s tough to trust Arizona much in cash games (OEL aside), but there’s plenty of intrigue in stacking this team tonight in GPPs.
Say what you will about Toronto’s defensive abilities, but Toronto has plenty of offensive weapons to target this evening. They’re the fastest paced team in the entire NHL this season (122.37 CP60) and that has resulted in a league high 11.79 scoring chances per 60 minutes (at 5 on 5). With Arizona invading the Air Canada Centre this evening allowing 3.10 goals against per game and an NHL worst 35.5 shots against per game, there’s value to be found up-and-down this lineup tonight. Auston Matthews burst onto the scene with a four goal game in his NHL debut and the first overall selection in the 2016 draft has kept things rolling since. He leads the Maple Leafs with 22 points (13 goals and 9 assists) and his 101 shots on goal has him ranked inside the top 10 of the entire NHL. Matthews is joined by William Nylander and Zach Hyman at even strength and headlines the Maple Leafs top power-play unit. Alternatively, James van Riemsdyk is in the midst of a bounce-back season and sits just one point behind Matthews with 21 points of his own. He’s thriving alongside Tyler Bozak and Mitchell Marner on the “second” line where all three players look like very nice options this evening. On defense, Jake Gardiner and Morgan Rielly soak up nearly all of the available minutes on the point of the power-play and are therefore the two blue-liners to target here. Both players are locked into 20+ minutes of ice-time on a nightly basis and have shown plenty of offensive upside thus far this season.
Arizona Coyotes
Team Metrics – 2016-17 – 44.79 CF%, 5×5 Goal Differential -15, 117.56 CP60
Elite Options
Oliver Ekman-Larsson ($5,800 FD, $5,200 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 52.21 CF60, 2.09 xGF60, 99.93 PDO
Secondary Options
Radim Vrbata ($4,900 FD, $5,200 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 54.36 CF60, 2.16 xGF60, 97.96 PDO
Martin Hanzal ($5,800 FD, $5,000 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 52.08 CF60, 2 xGF60, 95.84 PDO
Tobias Rieder ($4,500 FD, $4,100 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 53.52 CF60, 2.14 xGF60, 100.71 PDO
Expected Netminder
Mike Smith – My Ratings (out of 10): 4 Cash, 6.5 GPP
Toronto Maple Leafs
Team Metrics – 2016-17 – 50.65 CF%, 5×5 Goal Differential -2, 122.37 CP60
Elite Options
Auston Matthews ($6,600 FD, $7,200 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 64.96 CF60, 3.49 xGF60, 98.48 PDO
James van Riemsdyk ($7,200 FD, $6,600 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 64.42 CF60, 3.46 xGF60, 99.1 PDO
Secondary Options
Tyler Bozak ($5,200 FD, $5,000 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 64.09 CF60, 3.55 xGF60, 101.1 PDO
Mitchell Marner ($5,500 FD, $6,300 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 62.84 CF60, 3.42 xGF60, 100.69 PDO
William Nylander ($5,200 FD, $5,300 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 65 CF60, 3.49 xGF60, 98.36 PDO
Nazem Kadri ($6,500 FD, $5,700 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 62.71 CF60, 2.92 xGF60, 97.9 PDO
Jake Gardiner ($4,100 FD, $4,200 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 65.88 CF60, 3.68 xGF60, 100.04 PDO
Morgan Rielly ($4,700 FD, $5,100 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 65.66 CF60, 3.12 xGF60, 96.4 PDO
Expected Netminder
Frederik Andersen – My Ratings (out of 10): 7.5 Cash, 7.5 GPP
Los Angeles Kings at Detroit Red Wings
| Los Angeles Kings | Detroit Red Wings | ||||||||
 | Peter Budaj |  | Jimmy Howard | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 14-12-2 | 13-13-4 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.61 | 2.64 | 16.50% | 81.30% | Team Stats | 2.23 | 2.70 | 13.90% | 84.10% |
The Los Angeles Kings seemed to be gaining momentum as we broke from the Thanksgiving holiday, but after a poor outing in Buffalo on Tuesday night, they’ve now dropped four of their last six games and find themselves down in fourth place of the Pacific Division. They’ll continue to their second game of an unheard of nine game road trip looking to get back to their winning ways against a struggling Detroit hockey club. Los Angeles is your prototypical two-line offensive team. Anze Kopitar skates alongside Marian Gaborik and Trevor Lewis on the top line, while Jeff Carter leads Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli on the second line. With 14 goals and ten assists, Jeff Carter leads the Kings with 24 points in 28 games. He scored a pair of goals in Tuesday’s loss to Buffalo and has now scored four goals over the last four games. Meanwhile, Anze Koptiar’s production has started to pick back up ever since Gaborik returned to action. Kopitar owns a goal and five assists in five games this month and has even helped Trevor Lewis get going as he’s scored three goals and dished out a pair of assists in that same span. Drew Doughty won the Norris Trophy last season and is a rock solid cash game option on a nightly basis. He’s tallied 15 points in 28 games, facilitates things from the point of the #1 power-play unit, and averages nearly 27 minutes of ice-time per game. Alternatively, Alec Martinez has actually produced similar numbers and can be found at a significantly reduced asking price.
After a solid 6-2-0 start to the season, Detroit has just two regulation wins over their last 22 games and have posted an ugly 7-11-4 record during that span. They dropped a 4-1 decision in front of their home fans to the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday night and the writing is on the wall that this team will not be able to extend their playoff streak to a 26th season. Detroit has been the least aggressive team in the NHL thus far this season (49.56 CF60) and a matchup against a very solid puck possession team like the Los Angeles Kings (53.88 CF%) does not set up well for them this evening. Henrik Zetterberg has clearly lost a step but still leads the team with 20 points on the season. He’ll be joined on the top line by the reemerging Tomas Vanek and one of the few offensive bright spots on the team this season in the talented Anthony Mantha. Dylan Larkin has been somewhat quiet in his sophomore season but his speed can be an instant mismatch every time he takes the ice and he should start to produce more consistently with a veteran like Frans Nielsen as his center (although having Luke Glendening suddenly as the third wheel is head scratching). On defense, Mike Green is the only real option to consider right now. He’s posted a solid 16 points in 30 games this season and holds the reigns as the point-man on Detroit’s #1 power-play unit.
Los Angeles Kings
Team Metrics – 2016-17 – 53.88 CF%, 5×5 Goal Differential 2, 107.28 CP60
Elite Options
Anze Kopitar ($7,000 FD, $5,600 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 61.9 CF60, 2.96 xGF60, 98.71 PDO
Jeff Carter ($7,400 FD, $6,800 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 61.21 CF60, 2.35 xGF60, 100.86 PDO
Drew Doughty ($6,000 FD, $5,600 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 58.18 CF60, 2.36 xGF60, 100.97 PDO
Secondary Options
Tyler Toffoli ($5,900 FD, $5,600 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 62.24 CF60, 2.54 xGF60, 101.28 PDO
Marian Gaborik ($5,200 FD, $5,400 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 67.88 CF60, 3.99 xGF60, 97.29 PDO
Trevor Lewis ($3,900 FD, $3,600 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 56.81 CF60, 2.5 xGF60, 96.72 PDO
Alec Martinez ($4,600 FD, $5,000 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 60.47 CF60, 2.55 xGF60, 95.29 PDO
Jake Muzzin ($4,800 FD, $4,400 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 64.06 CF60, 2.49 xGF60, 94.35 PDO
Expected Netminder
Peter Budaj – My Ratings (out of 10): 6.5 Cash, 6.5 GPP
Detroit Red Wings
Team Metrics – 2016-17 – 47.49 CF%, 5×5 Goal Differential -3, 104.36 CP60
Elite Options
None
Secondary Options
Henrik Zetterberg ($6,200 FD, $5,900 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 53.3 CF60, 2.45 xGF60, 102.83 PDO
Anthony Mantha ($4,400 FD, $5,200 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 56.04 CF60, 2.48 xGF60, 102.29 PDO
Dylan Larkin ($5,200 FD, $5,500 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 52.57 CF60, 2.27 xGF60, 99.39 PDO
Thomas Vanek ($5,000 FD, $5,100 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 45.71 CF60, 2.27 xGF60, 107.07 PDO
Mike Green ($5,000 FD, $5,000 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 50.92 CF60, 2.21 xGF60, 99.48 PDO
Expected Netminder
Jimmy Howard – My Ratings (out of 10): 5.5 Cash, 6 GPP
New Jersey Devils at St. Louis Blues
| New Jersey Devils | St. Louis Blues | ||||||||
 | Cory Schneider |  | Jake Allen | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 12-10-6 | 16-10-4 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.39 | 2.89 | 15.40% | 83.30% | Team Stats | 2.70 | 2.80 | 21.80% | 88.00% |
New Jersey jumped out to an impressive 9-3-3 start to the season, but it’s been downhill ever since. The Devils were blasted 5-0 by the New York Rangers over the weekend and have now dropped three straight games and own just a 3-7-3 record over their last 13 games. They’ll head to the Gateway City to take on an angry St. Louis team that also happens to play for better hockey at the Scottrade Center. To put it into perspective, Jake Allen has widely been considered a bust this season by St. Louis fans, but just let these home numbers sink in for a second; 10-0-2 record, 1.79 GAA and .932 SV%. Mix in the fact that the Devils are one of the least aggressive offensive teams in the NHL this season (50.55 CF60), and it just isn’t too hard to fade New Jersey entirely in cash games on this eight game slate. With that said, Taylor Hall is always a GPP option and he also happens to be wielding a white-hot stick as he’s racked up three goals and five assists over the last five games. He’ll skate alongside Adam Henrique and P.A. Parenteau on the top line leaving the team leader in points (Travis Zajac) to center Kyle Palmieri and Michael Cammalleri on a very capable secondary scoring line. The New Jersey blue-line has been a fantasy wasteland over the past several seasons, but Damon Severson is trying to change that. He’s posted 15 points in 28 games this season and is looking more and more comfortable on the point of their #1 power-play unit. St. Louis does happen to own a very strong (88.0%) penalty kill which is a big hit to his upside.
After a very ugly road trip, St. Louis will be ecstatic to return home for tonight’s game against a New Jersey team who they just defeated 4-1 when they met last week. As mentioned above, St. Louis has been a completely different team at home; posting 12-1-3 record this season at the Scottrade Center. Vladimir Taresenko racked up three assists in that first meeting against the Devils and finds himself in the thick of the NHL scoring race with 34 points in 30 games. He’s picked up at least one point in each of the last four games and is a top-tier option in all formats this evening. Jaden Schwartz and Robby Fabbri will join Tarasenko on the top line and both players have multi-point upside. That leaves Alex Steen to headline a very dangerous secondary scoring line alongside Paul Stastny and David Perron. Those three tend to be widely overlooked on most slates, making them strong GPP targets this evening. On defense, it’s basically the same story as it’s been all season; Kevin Shattenkirk, Alex Pietrangelo and Colton Parayko are the players to target. All three blue-liners see plenty of playing time with the man advantage and are able to rack up fantasy points in numerous different ways. Shattenkirk does run things from the point of the #1 power-play unit, making him my preferred target of the three.
New Jersey Devils
Team Metrics – 2016-17 – 47.52 CF%, 5×5 Goal Differential -16, 106.37 CP60
Elite Options
None
Secondary Options
Taylor Hall ($7,100 FD, $7,000 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 56.15 CF60, 2.61 xGF60, 98.38 PDO
Adam Henrique ($4,800 FD, $5,000 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 52.2 CF60, 2.3 xGF60, 99.04 PDO
Travis Zajac ($5,100 FD, $5,500 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 54.92 CF60, 2.35 xGF60, 100.45 PDO
Damon Severson ($4,300 FD, $4,300 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 51.41 CF60, 2.22 xGF60, 97.38 PDO
Expected Netminder
Cory Schneider – My Ratings (out of 10): 5.5 Cash, 7.5 GPP
St. Louis Blues
Team Metrics – 2016-17 – 52.4 CF%, 5×5 Goal Differential -5, 103.88 CP60
Elite Options
Vladimir Tarasenko ($8,600 FD, $7,900 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 62.93 CF60, 3.08 xGF60, 101.81 PDO
Kevin Shattenkirk ($6,500 FD, $5,300 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 52.11 CF60, 2.39 xGF60, 98.43 PDO
Secondary Options
Alex Steen ($6,300 FD, $5,400 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 47.88 CF60, 1.91 xGF60, 94.42 PDO
Jaden Schwartz ($6,200 FD, $6,300 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 62.14 CF60, 2.86 xGF60, 102.27 PDO
Robby Fabbri ($5,100 FD, $4,700 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 54.24 CF60, 2.25 xGF60, 100.48 PDO
Alex Pietrangelo ($5,600 FD, $5,500 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 56.02 CF60, 2.39 xGF60, 99.63 PDO
Colton Parayko ($5,400 FD, $5,000 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 56.8 CF60, 2.26 xGF60, 98.97 PDO
Expected Netminder
Jake Allen – My Ratings (out of 10): 7.5 Cash, 7.5 GPP