NHL Grind Down: Tuesday, December 8th
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.
Detroit Red Wings at Washington Capitals – 07:00 PM EST
| Detroit Red Wings | Washington Capitals | ||||||||
 | Jimmy Howard |  | Braden Holtby | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 15-8-4 | 18-5-2 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.59 | 2.56 | 17.20% | 81.10% | Team Stats | 3.12 | 2.20 | 25.60% | 83.80% |
The Red Wings and Capitals complete their season series this evening after splitting the first two games – Detroit 1-0 and Washington 2-1 (in overtime). Since their last meeting three weeks ago, both team have been playing really well with the Capitals going 6-1-1 and the Red Wings 6-0-2.
The Capitals have been near the top of the league offensively all season long, led by the league’s perennial goal (and shot) leader Alexander Ovechkin. There have been several Caps players having strong offensive seasons aside from Ovechkin, including John Carlson, Nicklas Backstrom, T.J. Oshie and a breakout season from Evgeny Kuznetsov. The Wings have been hampered by injuries all season long, but have gotten healthy recently and they are suddenly a very deep team offensively with three lines that can score. Their results have really shown this with a league leading 14 goals in three December games thus far.
For daily fantasy sports purposes, both teams are very relevant for GPP tournaments. The Capitals are a home favorite with a low 5 goals for over/under, so another tight result may be expected, perhaps 3-2 Washington. If you can afford Ovechkin in your cash game lineup, he is a good play again today. Holtby is a possibility in goal if you lean more towards the results from the previous two head-to-head games, more than Detroit’s December wins.
Elite Plays
DET: Gustav Nyquist, Justin Abdelkader
WAS: Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov, John Carlson
Secondary Plays
DET: Dylan Larkin, Tomas Tatar, Nicklas Kronwall, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg
WAS: Braden Holtby, Matt Niskanen, T.J. Oshie
Los Angeles Kings at Columbus Blue Jackets – 07:00 PM EST
| Los Angeles Kings | Columbus Blue Jackets | ||||||||
 | Jonathan Quick |  | Sergei Bobrovsky | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 17-8-1 | 11-16-1 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.58 | 2.08 | 18.80% | 84.80% | Team Stats | 2.36 | 2.86 | 17.40% | 81.60% |
The Kings head to Columbus tonight after a successful homestand with four wins, and they are a road favorite in this game. Los Angeles has been one of the top teams in the league all season long, as we see from their point total, team statistics (goals against, goal differential, shot differential, penalty killing) and advanced statistics (league leader for Corsi percentage). They’ve been a very good road team as well this year (6-3-1, +0.8 goal differential). The Kings’ have two strong scoring lines that can be stacked for tournaments – Anze Kopitar / Marian Gaborik / Tanner Pearson and Jeff Carter / Milan Lucic / Tyler Toffoli. Goaltender Jonathan Quick is one of the best in the league and is definitely an option this evening for all game formats.
Columbus is much improved overall following an abysmal start to the season, and they’ve been done a great job at reducing scoring chances and goals against. Their problem though has still been goal scoring, and no Blue Jackets player is that strong a recommendation for lineups this evening. Although, the line of Nick Foligno, Scott Hartnell and Alexander Wennberg did score three goals last game, so there is some GPP possibility here.
Elite Plays
LA: Jonathan Quick, Jeff Carter, Milan Lucic, Drew Doughty
CBJ: None
Secondary Plays
LA: Marian Gaborik, Tyler Toffoli, Jake Muzzin
CBJ: Nick Foligno, Scott Hartnell, Ryan Johansen, Alexander Wennberg, Jack Johnson
New York Islanders at Philadelphia Flyers – 07:00 PM EST
| New York Islanders | Philadelphia Flyers | ||||||||
 | Jaroslav Halak |  | Steve Mason | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 15-8-5 | 11-11-5 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.71 | 2.32 | 20.00% | 85.00% | Team Stats | 1.96 | 2.70 | 17.10% | 80.40% |
These two division rivals play their second of five matches this year, with the Islanders as 3-1 winners in their first game two weeks ago. The Isles got balanced scoring from three different lines in that game, and that has been a key to their recent winning ways, taking the pressure off John Tavares to score. The top line with Tavares, Kyle Okposo and Brock Nelson is the top target in this game for a tournament stack, and Tavares or Okposo could be put into a cash game lineup as well.
Since that loss to the Islanders, the Flyers have been improved lately with wins in four of their past five games. The offense has picked things up in that period, however with a mix up of their lines it is difficult to determine which to stack in tournament play. The Flyers power play has been clicking lately with Shayne Gostisbehere as the new PP quarterback on the blueline, and their top power play unit with Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek, Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds and Gostisbehere is a possible tournament stack.
Elite Plays
NYI: John Tavares, Kyle Okposo
PHI: Claude Giroux, Shayne Gostisbehere
Secondary Plays
NYI: Jaroslav Halak, Brock Nelson, Frans Nielsen, Nick Leddy
PHI: Wayne Simmonds, Jakub Voracek, Brayden Schenn
New Jersey Devils at Toronto Maple Leafs – 07:30 PM EST
| New Jersey Devils | Toronto Maple Leafs | ||||||||
 | Cory Schneider |  | Jonathan Bernier | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 14-10-3 | 9-13-5 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.48 | 2.37 | 20.20% | 83.70% | Team Stats | 2.19 | 2.59 | 18.10% | 80.50% |
On the surface, this may be the most “ho hum” game on the schedule today. The spread is even and both teams are below average for goal scoring. After a closer look though, we can see that this game between New Jersey and Toronto definitely has some appeal in daily fantasy hockey and especially tournaments. The New Jersey top line of Michael Cammalleri, Adam Henrique and Lee Stempniak has been extremely underrated this year, putting up point totals of 30, 23 and 21 respectively. All have great plus/minus ratings (relevant for sites where that stat applies) and good shot totals. The line combined for three goals and six points in a 4-2 win over Florida on Saturday night, and have registered several multi-goal games this season (including three straight multi-point games for Cammalleri). All three players are fantasy relevant again tonight, either together in a stack or as separate one-off plays. The only downside is that they are becoming less and less of an under-the-radar stack. Devils’ goaltender Cory Schneider has been one of the top goalies in the league year with a 2.11 goals against average and .925 save percentage.
The Leafs have been one of the bottom teams in the league in many statistical categories this season (i.e. points, goals, shots against). They did pull out a surprise 4-1 win over St. Louis on Saturday night however, so there is some potential in their offense as a contrarian option. Those DFS tournament players that used Nazem Kadri and Leo Komarov fared very well on Saturday. Even with that result, and playing at home tonight, the Leafs are only a contrarian tournament option at best. For a cheap goaltender for tournament play, Garrett Sparks is worth a look. Sparks has been dynamite in two of his first three NHL starts, and there is potential for another win tonight.
Elite Plays
NJ: Michael Cammalleri, Adam Henrique, Cory Schneider
TOR: None
Secondary Plays
NJ: Lee Stempniak, Kyle Palmieri, Damon Severson
TOR: Nazem Kadri, Leo Komarov, Morgan Rielly, James van Riemsdyk
Ottawa Senators at Florida Panthers – 07:30 PM EST
| Ottawa Senators | Florida Panthers | ||||||||
 | Craig Anderson |  | Roberto Luongo | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 14-8-5 | 13-10-4 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 3.07 | 2.89 | 21.00% | 76.70% | Team Stats | 2.44 | 2.41 | 20.20% | 81.00% |
These two Atlantic division rivals play each other tonight for the first of five games this season. They’re separated in the division standings by just three points and have identical 6-3-1 records in their past 10 games. That is where the similarity between the Senators and Panthers ends though as these teams play vastly different styles of hockey. Ottawa ranks near the top of the league in both goals scored (5th at 3.07 per game) and most goals against (24th at 2.89 per game). Meanwhile, Florida is the opposite – 22nd in goals scored (2.44 per game) and 10th best in goals against (2.41 per game). We’ll see which team is able to invoke their style of play, and with the Panthers at home, they may win out in that regard. The Rangers were able to shut down the Senators’ dynamic offense on Sunday, and the Panthers will try to duplicate that.
The Panthers’ offensive leaders have been very inconsistent lately and the team is mostly a fade tonight. All-Star defenseman Aaron Ekblad had a big game on Saturday with a goal, an assist and seven shots. Goaltender Roberto Luongo has been very good again this season (2.33 GAA, .924 SvPct) and he is a possible tournament goalie option, as the Panthers are favored and they give up a fair amount of shots (seventh most at 30.6 per game).
For the Senators, many players are performing at a high level with point totals near or above a point per game pace. The Senators have had many big scoring games this year, which has made them a popular team to target for DFS hockey tournaments. That is the case again tonight if they are able to break through the Panthers’ defensive style. Any of Senators’ top four forwards – Mike Hoffman, Kyle Turris, Bobby Ryan, Mark Stone – can be used, and they have arguably the best offensive defenseman in the league in Erik Karlsson.
Elite Plays
OTT: Erik Karlsson, Mike Hoffman, Bobby Ryan
FLA: None
Secondary Plays
OTT: Mark Stone, Kyle Turris
FLA: Aaron Ekblad, Roberto Luongo, Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau