NHL Grind Down: Thursday, December 7th

by Ben (benwell311) Last Updated 2017-12-07 19:58:15 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

New York Islanders at Pittsburgh Penguins

New York Islanders					Pittsburgh Penguins
			Jaroslav Halak					Tristan Jarry
			Record					Record
			16-9-2					15-11-3
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	3.67	3.37	21.74	75.00	Team Stats	2.97	3.24	25.69	78.76

Islanders Offensive Outlook

5v5 (adj): 58.55 CF/60 (14) | 57.98 CA/60 (15) | 2.27 xGF/60 (17) | 2.21 xGA/60 (17)

We should see a shootout in Pittsburgh tonight. Well, the good kind — not the kind that give out charity points at the end of the game. The Islanders top six matches up well here. Both the top line and the second line have been outstanding at driving play and generating chances this year, while the Penguins remain a poor defensive team. We’ve also got an inexperienced goalie that struggled a bit in his first real test last game, allowing four goals on 29 shots to the New York Rangers.

John Tavares, Anders Lee, and Josh Bailey aren’t the only game on Long Island anymore. Mathew Barzal, Jordan Eberle, and Andrew Ladd (yes, that Andrew Ladd) have been just as good. They’ll come at a discount compared to the top line, so don’t overlook them in this plus draw.

Look for the Tavares line to draw coverage from Sidney Crosby while the Barzal line sees Evgeni Malkin. If Pittsburgh tries using Riley Sheahan and the third line against either of New York’s top lines, well, lol. None of these matchups should concern the Islanders, and we will have plenty of back-and-forth action here. With ownership likely to skew to the home team in this game, the Islanders are quite attractive in tournaments.

Brock Nelson, Anthony Beauvillier, and Josh Ho-Sang are floating out in the Kuiper Belt for GPPs. While there are enough options on the slate tonight that this shouldn’t be necessary, this line can be dangerous and will have a very favorable 5v5 draw. Ho-Sang is a viable salary cap savings punt as a one-off.

Islanders Special Teams Outlook
New York’s power play has been clicking quite a bit, and they have generally been strong generating scoring chances and high-danger shot attempts. Pittsburgh goes to the sin bin quite a bit (nearly four times per game on average) so the Islanders should get a few runs with the advantage tonight. The Penguins penalty killers have been pretty strong, however, so it’s not quite as strong a matchup as at 5v5.