NHL Grind Down: Tuesday, December 1st - Page Two

by John Britt (jmbwngfn) Last Updated 2015-12-01 14:37:44

Florida Panthers at St. Louis Blues – 08:00 PM EST

Florida Panthers					St. Louis Blues
			Roberto Luongo
			Record					Record
			10-9-4					15-6-3
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	2.52	2.52	20.50%	78.10%	Team Stats	2.67	2.42	18.70%	85.20%

The Panthers picked up overtime victories in each of their last two games, but have yet to string a three-game winning streak together this season and will certainly have their handful in their attempt tonight in St. Louis. The Blues own a 7-2-2 record at the Scottrade Center this season and defeated the Panthers in both meetings last year. The Panthers have benefited from a balanced scoring attack this season, and while that’s good news for Coach Gallant, it further muddies the water from a fantasy standpoint. Jaromir Jagr headlines a group of impressive young forwards, but I’m not expecting Florida to have much offensive success against a superior Blues team and will be fading the Panthers’ all together.

The Blues have sputtered a bit lately, but they remain a large threat in the Western Conference and should be looking to make a statement with seven of their next eight games at the Scottrade Center. Vladimir Tarasenko and Alex Steen team up to give the St. Louis one of the most dynamic scoring duos in the league and almost surely be the biggest thorns in the Panthers’ side this evening. Tarasenko has scored eight goals and added four assists in his ten home games this season is one of the top scoring options on the board today. Paul Stastny joins Tarasenko and Steen on the top forward line and has scored a pair of goals and added five assists in eight games now that he looks to be back to full health. The Blues boast plenty of forward depth, but that top line is where I’ll be focusing my fantasy attention. It’s a three-headed monster for St. Louis on the blue-line, with Kevin Shattenkirk, Alex Pietrangelo and Colton Parayko all sharing the available power-play minutes while also putting up very solid offensive numbers. With the Panthers owning just a 78.1% penalty kill, they’re all three fine targets in all formats.

Elite Plays

FLA: None
STL: Vladimir Tarasenko, Alexander Steen, Kevin Shattenkirk

Secondary Plays

FLA: Jaromir Jagr, Brandon Pirri, Jonathan Huberdeau, Nick Bjugstad, Aaron Ekblad
STL: Paul Stastny, David Backes, Alex Pietrangelo, Colton Parayko

Minnesota Wild at Chicago Blackhawks – 08:30 PM EST

Minnesota Wild					Chicago Blackhawks
			Devan Dubnyk					Corey Crawford
			Record					Record
			11-7-4					13-8-3
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	2.86	2.77	20.00%	74.50%	Team Stats	2.79	2.58	21.50%	80.30%

The Wild welcomed Zach Parise back to their lineup over the weekend, but it hasn’t been enough to get them back on the winning streak. Minnesota has now dropped six of their last seven games and fallen into 5th place in the very competitive Central Division. Stopping their skid won’t come easy tonight as they’ll head to the United Center to take on the defending Stanley Cup Champions who happen to own an 8-2-1 home record this season. Conversely, the Wild were swept from the Western Conference semi-finals by the Blackhawks and have struggled mightily on the road this season; posting just a 3-4-3 road record. Parise rejoins Mikael Granlund and Jason Pominville on the team’s most dangerous forward line, but their fantasy value is capped a bit with Jonathan Toews likely shadowing them all evening. Ryan Suter continues to be a workhorse on the blue-line for Minnesota and, with 20 points in 22 games and a very reasonable asking price on several sites, he’s really the only player I’ll be targeting in cash games tonight.

The Blackhawks will finally return home after a grueling six-game West Coast road trip tonight when they host the Minnesota Wild in the Windy City. Patrick Kane scored a goal and added an assist in the Hawks’ loss to the Kings on Saturday and has now pushed his point scoring streak to a ridiculous 19 games. The Minnesota Wild are not an ideal opponent, but he’s obviously proven to be matchup proof at this point. Kane leads the NHL with 14 goals and 23 assists in 24 games this season and both Artemi Panarin and Artem Anisimov are reaping the benefits as his linemates on Chicago’s top forward line. With Jonathan Toews and Andrew Shaw likely focusing on slowing down Zach Parise, the Kane line should likely continue to be the focal point of Coach Quenneville’s offense. On defense, both Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith join Kane, Panarin and Anisimov on the team’s top power-play unit and both blue-liners own very impressive offensive numbers. With the Wild owning an ugly 74.5% penalty kill, they deserve plenty of consideration tonight.

Elite Plays

MIN: Ryan Suter
CHI: Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook

Secondary Plays

MIN: Zach Parise, Jason Pominville, Mikko Koivu
CHI: Artem Anisimov, Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, Andrew Shaw, Trevor Daley

Dallas Stars at Calgary Flames – 09:00 PM EST

Dallas Stars					Calgary Flames
			Kari Lehtonen					Jonas Hiller
			Record					Record
			19-5-0					8-14-2
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	3.50	2.58	27.00%	80.80%	Team Stats	2.33	3.58	13.40%	70.80%

It’s the perfect storm for the Dallas Stars tonight. Not only are they the highest scoring team in the NHL thus far (3.50 Goals/Game) but they’ll head to Calgary to take on a Flames’ team that’s allowed a league high 3.58 GA/G on the young season. Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn combine to form the most dangerous offensive pairing in the league and it’s evident by their combined 31 goals and 34 assists in 24 games. They’ve hooked up for points on the same goal far more often than any other duo in the NHL this season (25 goals in which each had a point) and are well worth their big-ticket asking prices in this very favorable matchup. Patrick Sharp joins them on the top scoring line and, while he’s not putting up their ridiculous numbers, his 8 goals and 12 assists in 24 games makes him still very much a fantasy asset. Jason Spezza and John Klingberg join those three on the #1 power-play unit and with the Flames owning the league’s worst penalty kill, all five players are elite cash game options.

The Flames are easily one of the most disappointing teams in the league thus far during the 2015-16 season, and after dropping each of the three games on the road trip they just wrapped up, they absolutely need a very strong showing in this upcoming five game home stand. Unfortunately for them, they’ll welcome the high-flying and Central Division leading Dallas Stars into the Scotiabank Saddledome tonight. Escaping with two points may be difficult, but at the very least the Flames’ should benefit from a fantasy standpoint thanks to the Dallas Stars frenetic pace (117.8 CP60). A back-and-forth style game plays right into the hands of the Flames most threatening offensive line as Jiri Hudler, Sean Monahan, and Johnny Gaudreau may be undersized, but they’re certainly very dangerous in space. On defense, Mark Giordano possesses the highest ceiling of the bunch, but Dougie Hamilton, T.J. Brodie and Dennis Wideman are all solid playmakers who can be used as you see fit in this matchup.

Elite Plays

DAL: Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, Patrick Sharp, Jason Spezza, John Klingberg
CGY: Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan, Mark Giordano

Secondary Plays

DAL: Cody Eakin, Ales Hemsky, Patrick Eaves, Alex Goligoski
CGY: Jiri Hudler, Sam Bennett, Dennis Wideman, Dougie Hamilton, T.J. Brodie

Vancouver Canucks at Los Angeles Kings – 10:30 PM EST

Vancouver Canucks					Los Angeles Kings
			Ryan Miller					Jonathan Quick
			Record					Record
			9-8-7					14-8-1
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	2.83	2.67	20.40%	77.60%	Team Stats	2.48	2.13	19.10%	83.90%

The Canucks were shutout 4-0 in Anaheim last night and will take their disappointing 9-9-5 record north on I-5 to battle the Los Angeles Kings at the Staples Center tonight. They’ve now dropped 10 of their last 13 games and I don’t see that trend coming to an end tonight as tired legs against an elite puck possession team don’t tend to mix well. The Sedin brothers (along with Jannik Hansen) are almost always in play, but Darryl Sutter countered them with Anze Kopitar disrupting defense at every possible occasion in the first meeting between these two teams, and that’s a major blow to their fantasy outlook. With the Kings allowing just 2.13 GA/G, I won’t be targeting Vancouver at all in my cash games.

The Kings defeated the Blackhawks on Saturday and have now posted a 14-5-1 record since their 0-3-0 start to the season. They’re the best team in the league by Corsi Standards (56.5 CF%) and lead the Pacific Division with 29 points. They’ll be looking for revenge after being shutout by the Canucks in their only previous meeting this season and have enjoyed one of the more lopsided home ice advantages in the league over the past several seasons. With the Kopitar line focusing on slowing down the Sedins, Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli and Milan Lucic will be expected to continue their offensive onslaught on the “second” line. Those three forwards lead Los Angeles in scoring, with Carter setting the pace with 22 points in 23 games. The Canucks are playing on the second-half of back-to-back games and have also posted a very mediocre 77.6% penalty kill on the young season. This not only locks in Carter, Toffoli and Lucic as excellent forward options, but thrust both Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin up my rankings on defense.

Elite Plays

VAN: None
LAK: Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli, Drew Doughty

Secondary Plays

VAN: Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Radim Vrbata, Jannik Hansen, Alex Edler
LAK: Milan Lucic, Anze Kopitar, Marian Gaborik, Jake Muzzin

Pittsburgh Penguins at San Jose Sharks – 10:30 PM EST

Pittsburgh Penguins					San Jose Sharks
			Marc-Andre Fleury					Martin Jones
			Record					Record
			13-8-2					14-9-0
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	2.22	2.30	16.50%	84.00%	Team Stats	2.83	2.52	16.40%	80.80%

The nightcap of the evening features two teams hoping to re-emerge as very real threats to represent their respective conferences in the Stanley Cup Finals this spring when Pittsburgh enters the Shark Tank to battle the Sharks. The Penguins open a four game road trip tonight after dropping two very winnable games against Columbus and Edmonton. This isn’t the most ideal matchup on the board by any means, but the Penguins are simply too dangerous to ignore. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin headline the 1st and 2nd forward lines, respectively, and all six members (Hornqvist and Dupuis alongside Crosby, and Kessel and Perron with Malkin) can be used as you see fit. Kris Letang remains one of the more offensively gifted defensemen in the league and is really the only source of offense on the Penguins blue-line.

The Sharks are off to a fine start to the season (14-9-0) but have oddly struggled at home with just a 4-6-0 record at the Shark Tank. While they’re still without the services of Logan Couture, the emergence of Joel Ward has kept their balance scoring attack intact. Ward joins Patrick Marleau on the wing of the second forward line and has now picked up points in four straight games and posted 9 goals and 10 assists in 23 games on the young season. Joe Pavelski leads the team with 23 points and continues to thrive with the playmaking Joe Thornton as his center on the top line. Youngsters Melker Karlsson and Joonas Donskoi round out the top six and are solid value plays on sites where they’re still dirt cheap. Brent Burns is a defenseman by title only as the 6’5” blue-liner also owns a four game scoring streak and 102 SOG ranks third in the entire NHL.

Elite Plays

PIT: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, Kris Letang
SJS: Joe Pavelski, Brent Burns

Secondary Plays

PIT: Patric Hornqvist, David Perron, Pascal Dupuis
SJS: Joel Ward, Patrick Marleau, Joonas Donskoi, Melker Karlsson, Marc Edouard-Vlasic

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