NHL Grind Down: Thursday, December 28th

by Ben (benwell311) Last Updated 2017-12-28 20:47:36 Premium Content Part of the product SimLabs+

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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.

Note: As always, if you want to try a new DFS site, be sure to click through a RotoGrinders link and use our DraftKings promo code and FanDuel promo code to receive the best perks in the industry.

Stackability Rating System (Offense):

Green : Friendly matchup at 5v5 and/or on the power play; multiple lines worth stacking
Yellow : Line specific matchup at 5v5 and/or friendly power play matchup
Orange : Stacking is best left for GPPs, secondary scoring units and/or power play in tough matchup
Red : Difficult 5v5 and/or power play matchup, stacking not advisable

Stackability Rating System (Goalies):

Green : Goalie has a plus draw and is playable in all formats
Yellow : There is risk at 5v5 or the penalty kill; iffy for cash games and better for GPPs
Orange : Realistic risk at 5v5 and the penalty kill; not advisable in cash games but viable in GPPs
Red : Elevated risk in all situations and not a recommend crease to chase

Team Ranking Key
CF = Corsi For = shot attempts generated
CA = Corsi Allowed = shot attempts allowed
xGF = expected goals scored
xGA = expected goals allowed
Numbers in parentheses denote the league ranking for the particular metric.

Philadelphia Flyers at Florida Panthers

Philadelphia Flyers					Florida Panthers
			Brian Elliott					James Reimer
			Record					Record
			15-13-8					15-16-5
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	2.75	2.78	19.51	76.32	Team Stats	2.81	3.25	16.81	80.51

Flyers Offensive Outlook

5v5 (adj): 54.28 CF/60 (25) | 56.05 CA/60 (24) |2.19 xGF/60 (18) | 2.14 xGA/60 (24)

Coming off a couple of quiet games headed into Christmas break, the Flyers could once again see their offensive numbers muted a bit tonight. The matchup overall isn’t half bad, as Florida has allowed a good deal of shot attempts at 5v5 this year. The problem is that away from their top line, contributions have been inconsistent at best and nonexistent at worst from secondary scorers. The top line also figures to see Florida’s Trocheck line, which has allowed a fair number of shot attempts but have clamped down on the quality allowed.

Philadelphia’s secondary scorers have also struggled a bit this year. Things have gotten a little better with Jakub Voracek down on the second line with Valtteri Filppula and Michael Raffl, but this still has been one of the most quiet offenses away from their top line. Filppula and Nolan Patrick have swapped lines, so maybe Voracek can get the second overall pick going a bit in an otherwise quiet rookie campaign. If the Trocheck line works against the Couturier line, Philadelphia’s second trio is off the short list with a matchup against the defensively sound Barkov line for Florida.

Sean Couturier and Claude Giroux are the usual go-to’s when rolling out Flyers, with the third wheel on the line prone to bounce. Wayne Simmonds has been demoted and Travis Konecny got a run on the top line prior to the break. With a matchup against the Trocheck line likely on tap, this line comes with a bit of risk. Trocheck and his linemates have allowed a high number of shot attempts to get through, but the quality is low. If the top line sees the Barkov line, it’s an even worse matchup. The good news is that Giroux/Couturier stick together on the top power play unit, though Konecny’s value is lost there as he skates on the second unit.