NHL Grind Down: Thursday, February 18th
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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Detroit Red Wings at Pittsburgh Penguins – 07:00 PM EST
| Detroit Red Wings | Pittsburgh Penguins | ||||||||
 | Petr Mrazek |  | Marc-Andre Fleury | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 29-19-9 | 28-19-8 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.54 | 2.51 | 18.40% | 80.60% | Team Stats | 2.55 | 2.49 | 19.40% | 84.20% |
Backed by a decent road record of 14-9-3 the Detroit Red Wings have climbed into the spotlight in the Eastern conference. Detroit has scored 15 goals in their last five games and the team’s top line is responsible for nine of them. The chemistry is back for Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk as they have found the scoresheet 15 times in the last five games with Datsyuk leading the way with six goals and two assists. A lot of that has to do with both players being on the team’s top power play unit as it has connected six times in the last six games. Justin Abdelkader has grabbed five assists over those five games by skating next to Datsyuk and Zetterberg on both the top line and top power play unit. Brad Richards has been promoted to the power play unit with Mike Green manning the point. Dylan Larkin has been cold of late as he has collected just one assist over the last five games. Pittsburgh has looked good defensively of late as they have let the opponent score more than two goals just once in the last five games.
After scoring only two regulation goals in the past three games the Penguins are hoping that some home cooking will do them a little good. Evgeni Malkin has been skating and could return for tonight’s game if all goes well. It is no doubt he has been sorely missed. Maybe it hasn’t shown in the standings but certainly where the recent scoring drought is concerned. Sidney Crosby is the play here, if you can afford him. Crosby not only leads the team in points but has scored three goals and added four assists over the last five games which puts him one point shy of getting back to being a point-per-game player. Line mate Chris Kunitz has added three points while defenseman Kris Letang has grabbed five points, two of them being goals, over the last five games. All three players play on the team’s top power play unit along with Phil Kessel and Patric Hornqvist. Carl Hagelin and Matt Cullen will play on the second line with Kessel if Malkin does not return and make a decent GPP play as all three players have a goal and an assist in the last five games.
Elite Plays
DET: Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg
PIT: Sidney Crosby
Secondary Plays
DET: Mike Green, Justin Abdelkader, Dylan Larkin, Brad Richards
PIT: Kris Letang, Chris Kunitz, Patric Hornqvist, Phil Kessel
Washington Capitals at New York Islanders – 07:00 PM EST
| Washington Capitals | New York Islanders | ||||||||
 | Braden Holtby |  | Jaroslav Halak | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 41-10-4 | 30-19-6 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 3.29 | 2.27 | 23.70% | 84.00% | Team Stats | 2.85 | 2.51 | 19.80% | 87.00% |
Thanks to having two good scoring lines the Washington Capitals are not only the best team in the league they also are the only team to have 20 of more wins on the road. The top line of Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and T. J. Oshie all get top minutes on a power play that has connected in three of the last four games. The only doubtful play here is Oshie as he has collected just one assist in the last six games while Ovechkin has ten points in his last ten games with nine being goals. Backstrom was no doubt on the other end of some of those as he has tallied five assists in the last four games. The Capitals second line is in play here as both Evgeny Kuznetsov and Andre Burakovsky have found the scoresheet at least ten times each over the last ten games. Third line Marcus Johansson makes a good one-off play here as he has four goals and four assists over the last nine games while getting exposure to Ovechkin by skating on the top power play line. Defensively it looks like John Carlson is getting back on track as he has three assists in his last four games.
The Islanders have been a respectable 6-4 over the last ten games as they are one of six teams in the Eastern conference that are vying for a playoff spot. They currently hold the third spot in the Metropolitan division with 66 points with four other teams within striking distance. The Islanders power play has scored in seven of the last eight games which is led by John Tavares and Kyle Okposo. Tavares has tallied nine points in the last five games while Okposo has scored three goals to go along with four assists over that same time period. For some salary relief you can take a look at Ryan Strome who skates on the top line with Tavares and has hit the scoresheet five times in the last five games. Fran Nielsen and defenseman Nick Leddy make decent plays as they too skate on the team’s top power play line and although they have a combined ten points in the last five games it has been Anders Lee who needs to pick it up a bit if he wants to stay on the top unit. Yes the Islanders have been scoring goals but be cautious tonight as they face a good defensive team in the Washington Capitals.
Elite Plays
WSH: Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov
NYI: John Tavares
Secondary Plays
WSH: Nicklas Backstrom, T.J. Oshie, John Carlson, Andre Burakovsky, Marcus Johansson
NYI: Kyle Okposo, Nick Leddy, Frans Nielsen, Ryan Strome
New York Rangers at Toronto Maple Leafs – 07:30 PM EST
| New York Rangers | Toronto Maple Leafs | ||||||||
 | Henrik Lundqvist |  | James Reimer | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 32-18-6 | 20-26-9 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.86 | 2.52 | 16.60% | 78.10% | Team Stats | 2.35 | 2.87 | 14.80% | 79.80% |
The Rangers dropped a tough one to the Chicago Blackhawks last night on home ice by a score of 5-3. The top line of Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan and Mats Zuccarello have been the most productive with Stepan grabbing three goals and two assists in his last four games. Zuccarello has four points in four games while Kreider has four points in the last six games. Second liner Derick Brassard joins Kreider and Zuccarello on the team’s top power play and makes an excellent one-off play here as he has scored two goals to go along with two assists in his last five games. It looks like Rick Nash has been downgraded to week-to-week so look for the top two lines to go unchanged for a few more games. Ryan McDonagh returned on the back line but the Rangers left Keith Yandle on the top power play as he has now found the scoresheet in his last five games. Toronto isn’t a good team so the rangers should at least score a couple even though they played last night.
The Maple Leafs come into this one giving up 24 goals over the last five games. They have however scored 13 goals in those games and if there is a saving grace it may be the fact that the Rangers are coming in from playing the Chicago Blackhawks at home last night. Both P.A Parenteau and defenseman Jake Gardiner lead the team with two goals and two assists each in the last five games. Mark Arcobello skates on the second line with Parenteau and make a decent GPP duo as they have a combined total of five of the team’s last 13 goals. The clock has struck midnight for the top line, especially for 29 year old Leo Komarov who after a decent stretch in November has only scored three of his team leading 18 goals in the last 19 games. With a big slate tonight Toronto can only be counted on for tournament play tonight.
Elite Plays
NYR: None
TOR: None
Secondary Plays
NYR: Keith Yandle, Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello, Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan
TOR: Jake Gardiner, P.A. Parenteau, Nazem Kadri
San Jose Sharks at Florida Panthers – 07:30 PM EST
| San Jose Sharks | Florida Panthers | ||||||||
 | Martin Jones |  | Al Montoya | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 30-20-5 | 33-18-6 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.95 | 2.65 | 22.60% | 80.70% | Team Stats | 2.70 | 2.33 | 16.30% | 81.40% |
We already know who the best road team is but the San Jose Sharks are a close second with a 19-8-2 record away from the Shark Tank. The Sharks should have a big advantage on the power play as they have scored nine goals with the man advantage in the last seven games while the Panthers have given up seven goals in the last five games while being a man down. Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton lead the charge here as they not only lead the team in scoring they skate together on both the top line and top power play unit. Patrick Marleau has picked it up in recent games by registering two goals and two assists in his last five games. Logan Couture skates still skates on the third line but gets the top power play minutes and has eight points in his last five games. Defenseman Brent Burns rounds out the top five and makes a good play if you can afford him.
The Florida Panthers continue to lead the Eastern conference and still they seem to be getting no respect. The good news is that Aleksander Barkov had a good skate on Tuesday and could be back into the lineup as early as tonight. In Barkov’s absence the team has received equal scoring from the top two lines in the last few weeks. The top line of Nick Bjugstad, Jussi Jokinen and Jonathan Huberdeau all have scored two goals and an assist while defenseman Brian Campell has found the scoresheet four times over the last five games. Campbell and Huberdeau play on the power play with the second line that consists of Jaromir Jagr, Reilly Smith and Vincent Trocheck. Trocheck has two points in the last five games while Jagr and Smith have three. Again, these combinations can change if Barlov returns but for now it would be safe to pick a line and play them in GPP’s tonight.
Elite Plays
SJ: Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton
FLA: None
Secondary Plays
SJ: Patrick Marleau, Joel Ward, Logan Couture, Brent Burns
FLA: Brian Campbell, Jussi Jokinen, Jonathan Huberdeau, Jaromir Jagr, Reilly Smith
Carolina Hurricanes at Ottawa Senators – 07:30 PM EST
| Carolina Hurricanes | Ottawa Senators | ||||||||
 | Eddie Lack |  | Craig Anderson | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 26-21-10 | 26-26-6 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.44 | 2.58 | 16.90% | 81.60% | Team Stats | 2.76 | 3.07 | 18.20% | 74.30% |
This is a game between two non-playoff teams if the end of the season tournament started today. Lucky for both teams there are at least 25 games left on the schedule with plenty of time to make up some ground. Carolina is 6-2-2 in their last ten games and maybe even more impressive is the fact that they have scored 26 goals in their last eight games. It’s tough to tell which line is the second line and which is the third line as it seems both have been outperforming the top line of Eric Staal, Kris Versteeg and Phil DiGiuseppe in the past few weeks. That line has combined six points over the last five games so it makes sense that the other lines have been doing most of the damage. Jordan Staal has been the most consistent player with three goals and nine assists in his last ten games while his line mates in Joakim Nordstrom and Andrej Nestrasil have been chugging along to the tune of grabbing seven points each over the last nine games. Victor Rask and Elias Lindholm skate together on both the top power play unit and on the team’s third line. Rask has only tallied five points in the last ten games while Lindholm has two goals and four assists in his last eight games. With the injury to defenseman Justin Faulk, Noah Hanifin grabs the extra time on the power play and although he only has two points in his last ten games they both have come in the last two games he has played.
Besides giving up a lot of goals, the Ottawa Senators at times, score a few goals themselves. The power play has connected for five goals over the last five games so that looks to be a good starting point to start our research. Defenseman Erik Karlsson is always in play if you afford him as he not only has 12 points over the last ten games he leads the team in scoring as well. Kyle Turris has been back for seven games and has yet to tally a point as he skates on the top line with Mike Hoffman and Mark Stone. If I had a choice I’d take a good look at Stone as he has been hot lately by virtue of scoring six goals to go along with three assists in the last eight games. Newly acquired defenseman Dion Phaneuf rounds out the team’s top power play and looks to be settling in nicely as he has found the scoresheet five times in the last six games. Rookie Ryan Dzingel will get a chance to see what he can do as he has been inserted on the second line with Bobby Ryan and Mika Zibanejad. This second line should only be used as a tournament play with Stone, Hoffman and Karlsson being a little bit safer for tonight’s contests.
Elite Plays
CAR: None
OTT: Erik Karlsson
Secondary Plays
CAR: Jordan Staal, Joakim Nordstrom, Jeff Skinner, Noah Hanifin
OTT: Mike Hoffman, Dion Phaneuf, Bobby Ryan, Ryan Dzingel, Mark Stone