NHL Grind Down: Tuesday, April 5th - Page Two

by John Britt (jmbwngfn) Last Updated 2016-04-05 17:43:37

Pittsburgh Penguins at Ottawa Senators – 07:30 PM EDT

Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Pittsburgh Penguins					Ottawa Senators
			Matt Murray					Craig Anderson
			Record					Record
			46-25-8					36-34-9
Team Stats	2.92	2.41	18.90%	83.70%	Team Stats	2.76	2.96	15.80%	75.10%

Many expected the Pittsburgh Penguins to fade away after the news came that Evgeni Malkin would miss the rest of the regular season, but the opposite happened as this team has been on fire down the stretch. Pittsburgh has won six straight games to climb firmly into second place in the Metropolitan Division and can should be motivated clinch their spot as they’d have two games to rest up if they can get two points tonight against the Ottawa Senators. With Ottawa having allowed an ugly 2.96 goals against per game and allowing the most SOG/G in the league this season (32.7 SA/G), there are some terrific options to be found here. Obviously it all starts with Sidney Crosby as he’s exploded for 16 goals, 25 assists and a plus 23 in 31 games since the All-Star break. Crosby has racked up three goals and an assist in the two previous meetings with Ottawa this season and is one of the premier plays of the evening. He’ll be joined by Patric Hornqvist and Chris Kunitz on the top line while Nick Bonino has filled in admirably for Malkin alongside Phil Kessel and Carl Hagelin to provide Mike Sullivan a nice secondary scoring line. Kessel has come on very strong lately as he’s tallied five goals and six assists in the last six games. On defense, Kris Letang is a top tier option tonight considering his six game point streak and 64 points on the season. He’s runs the show from the point of Pittsburgh’s top power-play unit and should skate into an abundance of scoring chances with Ottawa sporting an atrocious 75.1% penalty kill.

Ottawa was officially eliminated from playoff contention over the weekend and really don’t have anything left to play for at this point. They have a tough home matchup against a Pittsburgh Penguins team that is not only red-hot, but who have also defeated this team in both prior meetings this season. When looking at Ottawa, you have to start with Erik Karlsson. He leads all NHL defensemen with 79 points and is average of 29:02 of ice-time per game is the best in the entire NHL. With Pittsburgh happy to play a wide-open version of hockey, Karlsson should be heavily involved in Ottawa’s offensive attack. Up-front, Ottawa will likely be without Mark Stone tonight (and possibly for the remainder of the season) which is a huge blow to this team as he owned 28 points in 27 games since the break. However, guys like Zack Smith, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Bobby Ryan and Mike Hoffman still have enough offensive upside to be targeted in GPPs.

Pittsburgh Penguins

CF%: 53, CP60: 109.9, 5×5 Differential: 31
Elite Options: Sidney Crosby, Patric Hornqvist, Phil Kessel, Kris Letang
Secondary Options: Chris Kunitz, Nick Bonino, Carl Hagelin, Just Schultz, Trevor Daley

Ottawa Senators

CF%: 47.5, CP60: 110.8, 5×5 Differential: -2
Elite Options: Erik Karlsson
Secondary Options: Zack Smith, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Bobby Ryan, Mike Hoffman

San Jose Sharks at Minnesota Wild – 08:00 PM EDT

Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
San Jose Sharks					Minnesota Wild
			Martin Jones					Devan Dubnyk
			Record					Record
			44-29-6					38-31-11
Team Stats	2.90	2.56	22.10%	80.40%	Team Stats	2.65	2.49	19.10%	77.90%

The Sharks are still mathematically alive for the Pacific Division title (albeit a longshot) and have a favorable schedule in their final three games that starts tonight in Minnesota. San Jose has been oddly much more successful on the road this season (27-10-3), and after watching Minnesota lose three straight games, they’re definitely worth consideration tonight. With two assists in Nashville on Saturday, Joe Thornton extended his point streak to four games and has taken over the team lead with 78 points in 79 games this season. He joins forces with Joe Pavelski (and Tomas Hertl) on the top forward line and both players need to be on your radar in both cash games and GPPs. Pavelski has posted a goal and two assists in three meetings with the Wild this season and has racked up four goals and six assists in his last nine games. Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau join Pavelski and Thornton up front on the top power-play unit where they see a huge fantasy boost thanks to Minnesota’s ugly 77.9% penalty kill. With that penalty kill still in mind, Brent Burns is locked in as an elite option on the blue-line. He’s riding a six game point streak, has posted 31 points in 31 games since the All-Star break and his 344 SOG trails only Alex Ovechkin for the lead in the entire NHL.

With two points tonight (or a Colorado loss) the Minnesota Wild can finally clinch a playoff spot in the Western Conference. After taking a nose dive that ultimately ended with the firing of Mike Yeo in early February, the Wild have stormed to a 15-9-1 record over their last 25 games and suddenly look like a dangerous team to deal with in the first round of the playoffs. Even though they’ll once again be without Thomas Vanek once again tonight, new coach John Torchetti still has two very capable scoring lines to throw over the boards at the Sharks. The top line consisting of Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu and Charlie Coyle are the top options, but the trio of Nino Niederreiter, Erik Haula and Jason Pominville have been putting up big offensive numbers lately also. Parise has come alive lately with six goals and four assists in hi last seven games while Koivu leads the way with 56 points. On defense, Ryan Suter has posted a career high 51 points in 80 games and is averaging nearly 29 minutes of ice-time per game. With the Sharks owning just a 80.4% penalty kill, he’s a fine option in all formats (particularly on FanDuel where he remains well underpriced.

San Jose Sharks

CF%: 51.7, CP60: 107.7, 5×5 Differential: 14
Elite Options: Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Brent Burns
Secondary Options: Logan Couture, Patrick Marleau, Tomas Hertl, Paul Martin

Minnesota Wild

CF%: 47.7, CP60: 105.6, 5×5 Differential: 14
Elite Options: Zach Parise, Ryan Suter
Secondary Options: Mikko Koivu, Charlie Coyle, Eric Haula, Jason Pominville, Matt Dumba

Colorado Avalanche at Nashville Predators – 08:00 PM EDT

Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Colorado Avalanche					Nashville Predators
			Semyon Varlamov					Pekka Rinne
			Record					Record
			39-36-4					39-26-14
Team Stats	2.58	2.87	18.60%	81.40%	Team Stats	2.72	2.59	19.40%	80.90%

After losing three straight games, this is a legit “must win” game for the Avalanche if they want any chance at a post-season birth. While they’ve won three of the four meetings against the Nashville Predators, they’ve also dropped five of their last six games and have routinely been badly outshot on a nightly basis. To make matters worse, it looks like Colorado could potentially be without Nathan MacKinnon for the remainder of the season. Matt Duchene leads the team with 57 points and headlines the top line alongside Mikhail Grigorenko and Mikkel Boedker. Jarome Iginla and Gabriel Landeskog join him on the top power-play and are also two of the better options here against Nashville’s middling penalty kill. Alternatively, Blake Comeau has feasted on the Predators with two goals and three assists in their four previous meetings and sees a healthy dose of playing time on the point of the #2 power-play. On defense, Tyson Barrie sits just two points shy of his second consecutive 50-point season and as the top play from the Colorado blue-line. Francois Beauchemin and Erik Johnson share the duties on the point of the second power-play unit and are therefore worth GPP consideration.

Nashville may have clinched a playoff spot, but after dropping each of their last four games, it’s highly unlikely that Peter Laviolette will sit quietly and let his team coast into the playoffs on an extended losing streak. Nashville owns an impressive 21-11-7 record at the Bridgestone arena but aside from simply getting back some momentum for the playoff run, they’re locked into a first round matchup with whoever takes down the Central Division crown. Nashville will throw two very dangerous scoring lines at the Avalanche tonight with James Neal and Ryan Johansen joining forces on the top line while the trio of Filip Forsberg, Mike Ribeiro and Craig Smith have been impressive down the stretch. Forsberg has racked up 17 goals and 12 assists in 29 games during the second half of the season. He’s also tallied two goals and three assists in four games against the Avalanche making him a nice option in all formats. James Neal has been on fire over the last three weeks as well, scoring eight goals and adding six assists in his last ten games. On defense, both Shea Weber and Roman Josi are known commodities and are top tier options on the blue-line. If you can’t afford either of those two, Mattias Ekholm has earned some power-play time with the second unit and owns four assists this season against Colorado.

Colorado Avalanche

CF%: 44.1, CP60: 111.3, 5×5 Differential: -13
Elite Options: Matt Duchene
Secondary Options: Gabriel Landeskog, Mikkel Boedker, Blake Comeau, Tyson Barrie

Nashville Predators

CF%: 52.5, CP60: 106.7, 5×5 Differential: 8
Elite Options: James Neal, Filip Forsberg, Shea Weber, Roman Josi
Secondary Options: Ryan Johansen, Mike Ribeiro, Craig Smith, Mattias Ekholm

Arizona Coyotes at Chicago Blackhawks – 08:30 PM EDT

Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Arizona Coyotes					Chicago Blackhawks
			Mike Smith					Scott Darling
			Record					Record
			35-36-7					46-26-7
Team Stats	2.59	2.94	18.60%	77.90%	Team Stats	2.82	2.51	22.20%	79.80%

Arizona showed it’s futility once gain by coughing up a lead last night and allowing the St. Louis Blues to win quiet easily thanks to four third-period goals.The Coyotes will head to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks at the United Center and are simply a team I’m looking to avoid almost all together tonight. Chicago has allowed an NHL best 2.03 goals against per game this season on home-ice and have defeated this Coyotes team in both prior meetings. Oliver Ekman-Larsson picked up his 53rd point of the season last night and has oddly lit up the Blackhawks for a goal and five assists in their two prior meetings. On a huge 11 game slate, he’s the only player I’ll consider for cash games here tonight.

The Blackhawks jumped all over the Boston Bruins over the weekend to pick up their second straight win, and despite taking their foot off the gas for the bulk of the second half of the season, they’re still looking like they’ll valiantly defend their Stanley Cup title. With Arizona not only in action last night, but also allowing an ugly 2.94 goals against per game this season to go along with an unsightly 77.9% penalty kill, Chicago will likely be popular selections this evening. Breaking them down obviously has to start with Patrick Kane as he posted hat trick against the Bruins and now leads the entire NHL with 100 points this season. He’s thrived alongside Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov both at even strength and on the top power-play unit and that trio has combined for four goals and six assists in the two prior meetings with Arizona. Captain Jonathan Toews should be able to lighten his focus in the defensive zone tonight and has lit the lamp on three occasions against Arizona. He’s picked up points in four straight games and leads Marian Hossa and Andrew Ladd on the top forward line that figures to play a huge roll in this teams’ playoff success. With Duncan Keith suspended, Brent Seabrook will inherit a huge workload and the duties on the point of the top power-play unit. He’s picked up a pair of points in each of the last two games and is one of the best dollar-for-dollar plays on the blue-line tonight.

Arizona Coyotes

CF%: 46.9, CP60: 110.1, 5×5 Differential: -7
Elite Options: None
Secondary Options: Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Chicago Blackhawks

CF%: 50.9, CP60: 109.9, 5×5 Differential: -5
Elite Options: Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin, Jonathan Toews, Brent Seabrook
Secondary Options: Artem Anisimov, Marian Hossa, Andrew Ladd, Teuvo Teravainen

Los Angeles Kings at Calgary Flames – 09:00 PM EDT

Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Los Angeles Kings					Calgary Flames
			Jonathan Quick					Joni Ortio
			Record					Record
			46-27-5					33-40-6
Team Stats	2.71	2.32	20.70%	81.20%	Team Stats	2.73	3.14	16.50%	74.50%

The Kings have dropped two straight games but they still control their own destiny and can secure the Pacific Division crown with three straight victories to close out the season. While they’ll take on a Flames team that has been far more effective at the Scotiabank Saddledome this season, Calgary also owns a league worst 3.14 goals against per game this season and their 74.5% penalty kill is the worst in the league. The Kings have easily dismissed them in each of their prior three meetings this season and will likely find high ownership levels this evening. Anze Kopitar leads the charge with 70 points in 78 games and has scored a goal and dished out three assists in those three games against the Flames. He centers both the top forward line and the #1 power-play unit and is a top tier option at center in all formats. Alternatively, Jeff Carter joins Kopitar on the top power-play and helps provide Kopitar with some secondary scoring on the second line alongside Milan Lucic and Tyler Toffoli. Carter has come alive lately with five goals and four assists in his last six games. On defense, both Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin see heavy workloads and share the duties on the point of the #1 power-play unit. With Calgary’s dreadful penalty kill in mind, their top tier options on the blue-line tonight.

As mentioned above, the Flames have been absolutely dominated by this Los Angeles team and with just 72 points on the season, it’s hard to expect anything different tonight as these two teams have polar opposite motivation levels. With that said, Calgary does own a solid 20-16-3 record on home-ice this season and the duo of Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan shouldn’t be ignored (particularly in GPPs). While they’ll likely see a large dose of the pestering defense from Anze Kopitar, they’ve combined for 35 goals and 54 assists (and a plus 31) in 38 home games. On defense, both Mark Giordano and Dougie Hamilton have been putting up solid offensive numbers and have enough upside to overcome tonight’s less than stellar matchup.

Los Angeles Kings

CF%: 56.1, CP60: 110.3, 5×5 Differential: 17
Elite Options: Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter, Drew Doughty, Jake Muzzin
Secondary Options: Milan Lucic, Tyler Toffoli, Kris Versteeg, Alec Martinez

Calgary Flames

CF%: 48, CP60: 110.1, 5×5 Differential: -19
Elite Options: Johnny Gaudreau
Secondary Options: Sean Monahan, Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton