NHL Grind Down: Thursday, November 3rd - Page Three
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Calgary Flames at San Jose Sharks
| Calgary Flames | San Jose Sharks | ||||||||
 |  | ||||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 4-6-1 | 6-4-0 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.82 | 3.55 | 9.80% | 72.30% | Team Stats | 2.50 | 2.40 | 22.60% | 85.70% |
It was a terrible start to the season for the Flames, but just as it looked like they had righted the ship, they were severely outclassed in each of their last two games; losing by a combined score of 8-2 to the Capitals and Blackhawks, respectively. They’ll continue their road trip tonight as they head into the always intimidating Shark Tank to battle a San Jose Sharks team that represented the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals last season. Facing the Sharks is a tough task for opposing offenses as they’ve allowed just 25.7 shots against per game and guys like David Schlemko, Brenden Dillon, Logan Couture and even Patrick Marleau all find themselves amongst the NHL league leaders in SA/60. The Flames do boast one of the most dangerous duos in the game as Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan have been putting up big numbers since joining forces last season and they’re worthy of your attention in GPP’s. However, they’ll likely be shadowed around the ice by Logan Couture this evening and that’s enough take them out of cash game consideration for me this evening. Defensively, the Flames have several fine options in general, but there’s nothing in particular that makes them stand out as strong plays this evening.
As one of the biggest favorites on the board in Las Vegas this evening, the San Jose Sharks will likely be rather popular in all formats tonight. They draw a home matchup against a defensively inept Calgary Flames team who they hung five goals against in three of their five meetings last season. There is plenty of fantasy goodness to be found in this San Jose lineup, but none more so than Brent Burns. As you’d expect, Burnsie is off to another fine start as he’s racked up three goals and seven assists in ten games and holds the NHL lead with 56 SOG. With the Flames owning an ugly 72.3% penalty kill this season, I’ll be doing whatever I can to lock him into my cash game lineups this evening. Up-front, Peter DeBoer is loaded with forward depth. Joe Pavelski actually leads the team with 11 points through ten games and joins forces with Joe Thornton and Mikkel Boedker on the top forward line that should have little trouble creating some scoring chances. Meanwhile, Logan Couture may be the Sharks most complete player and he joins Thornton and Pavelski on the #1 power-play unit. He’s a fine option tonight but it is worth noting that he’ll also likely be tasked with a few added defensive responsibilities as the Sharks look to stifle the Gaudreau/Monahan combo.
Calgary Flames
Team Metrics – 2016-17 – 49.38 CF%, 5×5 Goal Differential 1, 109.84 CP60
Elite Options
None
Secondary Options
Johnny Gaudreau ($6,700 FD, $6,500 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 49.33 CF60, 1.83 xGF60, 97.44 PDO
Sean Monahan ($6,200 FD, $5,800 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 50.59 CF60, 1.78 xGF60, 96.63 PDO
Mark Giordano ($6,400 FD, $6,000 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 51.56 CF60, 2.11 xGF60, 100 PDO
Expected Netminder
Brian Elliott – My Ratings (out of 10): 4 Cash, 6.5 GPP
San Jose Sharks
Team Metrics – 2016-17 – 53.69 CF%, 5×5 Goal Differential -4, 116.33 CP60
Elite Options
Joe Pavelski ($7,700 FD, $7,800 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 62.87 CF60, 2.51 xGF60, 105.72 PDO
Brent Burns ($8,000 FD, $8,500 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 69.78 CF60, 3.44 xGF60, 100.38 PDO
Secondary Options
Joe Thornton ($5,300 FD, $5,600 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 60.76 CF60, 2.33 xGF60, 102.71 PDO
Logan Couture ($6,500 FD, $6,400 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 60.72 CF60, 2.99 xGF60, 98.52 PDO
Tomas Hertl ($5,400 FD, $4,900 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 68.49 CF60, 2.27 xGF60, 101.56 PDO
Marc-Edouard Vlasic ($4,400 FD, $4,200 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 49.68 CF60, 1.85 xGF60, 97.85 PDO
Expected Netminder
Martin Jones – My Ratings (out of 10): 8 Cash, 7.5 GPP
Pittsburgh Penguins at Los Angeles Kings
| Pittsburgh Penguins | Los Angeles Kings | ||||||||
 |  | ||||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 6-2-1 | 4-6-0 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.67 | 3.00 | 26.50% | 78.90% | Team Stats | 1.90 | 3.00 | 13.80% | 73.70% |
The Penguins cruised to an easy 5-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks last night and will make the short drive to the Staples Center for tonight’s battle with the Los Angeles Kings. Pittsburgh has now won four straight games to climb into first place in the Metropolitan Division and we already know that they have no shortage of offensive firepower. While the Los Angeles Kings continue to be a very strong puck possession team, they have allowed 3.00 goals against per game this season and there are major question marks about their situation between the pipes while Jonathan Quick recovers. Sidney Crosby looks to be back to full health and now centers both Patric Hornqvist and Scott Wilson on the top line, leaving Evgeni Malkin to play between Phil Kessel and Chris Kunitz on the “second” line. Both lines have proven to be matchup proof for the most part and are fine options if you choose to go that route, but it’s a bit unclear on how Darryl Sutter will utilize Anze Kopitar (On the Crosby line, if i’m guessing) and his defensive abilities will be a downgrade for whomever he’s deemed responsible to slow down. On defense, Kris Letang returned to action last night and immediately made his presence felt as he scored a goal and added an assist. When healthy he’s capable or producing at nearly a point-per-game pace and is therefore a top-tier option on the blue-line. His return will cut into the value of both Justin Schultz and Trevor Daley, but both players still see some playing time on the point of the #2 power-play unit and remain very inexpensive on most sites.
The Kings have been making it a habit to get off to slow starts to the season in recent years, and things are no different this time around. They were smoked 4-0 in by the Anaheim Ducks in their last outing and have now been shut out in three straight games to drop to a 4-6-0 record through ten games. The team is talented and still a potential threat in the Western Conference, but ignoring that kind of offensive ineptitude seems dangerous. On paper, the Kings do have two dangerous forward lines to throw over the boards headlined by Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter, respectively. Tanner Pearson (and Devin Setoguchi) joins Kopitar on the top line with Tyler Toffoli lining up alongside Carter (and Dwight King) on the second line but neither option is overly exciting for cash games. On defense, both Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin are known commodities and fine options for those wanting some exposure to this Kings lineup. Alternatively, it’s actually Alec Martinez that leads the Kings with seven points (two goals and five assists) and his shot blocking ability and reasonable asking price make him an intriguing option this evening.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Team Metrics – 2016-17 – 50 CF%, 5×5 Goal Differential -2, 119.94 CP60
Elite Options
Sidney Crosby ($8,600 FD, $8,200 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – NA
Evgeni Malkin ($8,100 FD, $7,000 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 63.55 CF60, 3.09 xGF60, 101.64 PDO
Secondary Options
Patric Hornqvist ($7,000 FD, $6,400 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 78.29 CF60, 4.49 xGF60, 99.06 PDO
Phil Kessel ($7,200 FD, $6,100 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 53.49 CF60, 1.87 xGF60, 101.05 PDO
Expected Netminder
Marc-Andre Fluery – My Ratings (out of 10): 7 Cash, 7.5 GPP
Los Angeles Kings
Team Metrics – 2016-17 – 56.96 CF%, 5×5 Goal Differential -6, 113.26 CP60
Elite Options
None
Secondary Options
Anze Kopitar ($6,700 FD, $6,000 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 65.84 CF60, 2.69 xGF60, 95.46 PDO
Jeff Carter ($5,900 FD, $5,600 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 68.91 CF60, 2.09 xGF60, 98.93 PDO
Tyler Toffoli ($5,400 FD, $5,200 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 65.58 CF60, 2.5 xGF60, 100.09 PDO
Drew Doughty ($5,800 FD, $5,200 DK) – 16-17 Metrics – 71.83 CF60, 2.43 xGF60, 97.15 PDO
Expected Netminder
Peter Budaj – My Ratings (out of 10): 5 Cash, 6 GPP