NHL Grind Down: Tuesday, February 16th - Page Two
Buffalo Sabres at Ottawa Senators – 07:30 PM EST
| Buffalo Sabres | Ottawa Senators | ||||||||
 | Robin Lehner |  | Craig Anderson | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 23-28-6 | 25-26-6 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.37 | 2.74 | 19.80% | 81.40% | Team Stats | 2.79 | 3.11 | 18.40% | 74.00% |
The Sabres finally broke out of their offensive slump with ten total goals in two victories over the weekend and have fine matchup on tap tonight against an Ottawa team that is not only allowing a league worst 33.0 shot against per game and also allowing an NHL high 3.11 goals against per game. These two teams have split their two prior meetings this season and while most DFS players will likely look toward the Ottawa players in this one, there’s plenty to like from the Sabres as well. Evander Kane will miss tonight’s game for disicplinary reasons, but that shouldn’t slow down Ryan O’Reilly whose posted 17 goals and 32 assists in 57 games. He’ll be joined on the top line by Sam Reinhart who has flashed the skill that made him the second overall pick in the 2014 draft by racking up five goals and an assist in his last six games. Phenom Jack Eichel has already scored on three occasions in the two meetings against the Senators and has tallied four goals and seven assists in his last 12 games. On defense, Rasmus Ristolainen is another former first round pick blossiming for Buffalo this season. The 21 year-old Fin has posted a career high 33 points in 57 games and is now averaging over 25 minutes of ice-time per game. He quarterbacks the #1 power-play unit where he’ll get a crack at Ottawa’s atrocious 74.0% penalty kill
A three game losing skid has pushed the Senators only life support in the tough Eastern Conference playoff race. However, they’ll return home tonight for a very favorable matchup against the Buffalo Sabres and will likely be rather popular selections this evening. Erik Karlsson leads all NHL defenseman with 63 points in 57 games this season and is the top defensive play of the evening. Up front, things aren’t quite as cut and dry as Dave Cameron recently shook up his forward combinations. Somewhat surpsingly the duo of Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Mark Stone have been leading the charge lately. They’ve combined for eight goals and eight assists in seven games this the break and are both still very reasonably priced across the industry. Alternatively, Kyle Turris and Mike Hoffman are likely the most offensively gifted forwards on this team and pair up both at even strength and on the top power-play unit. Bobby Ryan skated alongside those two at yesterday’s practice and should benefit from returning to that line. Unfortunately for Mika Zibanejad, this shakeup leaves him centering the third line and, considering his recent cold streak, takes him out of cash game consideration.
Buffalo Sabres
CF%: 48, CP60: 103.9, 5×5 Differential: -30
Elite Options: Jack Eichel, Ryan O’Reilly, Rasmus Ristolainen
Secondary Options: Sam Reinhart, Jamie McGinn, Cody Franson
Ottawa Senators
CF%: 47.3, CP60: 110.9, 5×5 Differential: -8
Elite Options: Mike Hoffman, Kyle Turris, Erik Karlsson
Secondary Options: Bobby Ryan, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Mark Stone, Dion Phaneuf
Dallas Stars at St. Louis Blues – 08:00 PM EST
| Dallas Stars | St. Louis Blues | ||||||||
 | Antti Niemi |  | Brian Elliott | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 36-15-5 | 32-17-9 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 3.25 | 2.68 | 22.10% | 79.80% | Team Stats | 2.41 | 2.31 | 20.50% | 86.60% |
In what might just be the most intriguing game of the evening, the Dallas Stars invade the Scottrade Center in St. Louis looking to hold onto first place in the Central Division. Dallas appeared to run out of steam heading into the All-Star break, but have looked revitalized since the break winning six of seven second half games. Obviously analyzing the Dallas Stars has to start with looking at the dynamic duo of Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. Benn and Seguin both find themselves in the top four of the NHL scoring race and will be joined by Patrick Eaves both on the top line and #1 power-play unit. While they’ll likely be shadowed as much as possible by the solid defense of the Steen/Backes line, all three are still fine options in all formats. Eaves may not have the pedigree and upside of his linemates but he’s tallied four goals and four assists in seven games since the break and can be found at a fraction of the price. No longer playing alongside Benn and Seguin and with Jason Spezza out of commission as well, it’s tough to justify using Patrick Sharp as anything other than a GPP flier considering his fairly expensive price-tag. John Klingberg has easily been the most consistent source of fantasy points from the Dallas blue-line and the 23 year-old has now racked up 48 points in 57 games and puts a four game point streak on the line tonight. The Blues’ terrific penalty kill dampens his outlook just slightly, but he’s definitely still in play.
The Blues have really struggled to gain momentum since the calendar flipped to 2016, but after consecutive impressive wins in the Sunshine State, they’ll look for another statement win against the Central Division leading Dallas Stars tonight. They were ecstatic to welcome Jaden Schwartz to the lineup over the weekend and he immediately rejoined Vladimir Tarasenko (and Jori Lehtera) on the Blues top forward line. Tarasenko leads the team with 49 points and looks like a top tier option against the up-tempo Dallas Stars. Alternatively, Alex Steen has posted an impressive seven goals and 19 assists in 30 home games this season and is now joined by Captain David Backes and Patrik Berglund on a very capable secondary scoring line. Now fully healthy, the Blues forward depth is on full display as Paul Stasny, Robby Fabbri and Troy Brouwer team up to form one of the most dangerous “third” lines in the NHL. On defense, Alex Pietrangelo absence has forced Kevin Shattenkirk, Jay Bouwmeester and Colton Parayko into very heavy workloads. Shattenkirk is the top option, but Parayko’s armed with a blistering slapshot that has become a major weapon on the point of the #2 power-play. With the Stars owning a subpar 79.8% penalty kill, both blue-liners are worth consideration in all formats.
Dallas Stars
CF%: 53.5, CP60: 116.1, 5×5 Differential: 13
Elite Options: Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn
Secondary Options: Patrick Eaves, Cody Eakin, John Klingberg, Alex Goligoski
St. Louis Blues
CF%: 51, CP60: 104.8, 5×5 Differential: 8
Elite Options: Vladimir Tarasenko, Alexander Steen, Jaden Schwartz, Kevin Shattenkirk
Secondary Options: David Backes, Jori Lehtera, Robby Fabbri, Colton Parayko
Anaheim Ducks at Edmonton Oilers – 09:00 PM EST
| Anaheim Ducks | Edmonton Oilers | ||||||||
 | Frederik Andersen |  | Cam Talbot | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 27-19-8 | 22-29-6 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.28 | 2.35 | 18.20% | 88.30% | Team Stats | 2.44 | 2.96 | 17.90% | 80.90% |
The Ducks picked up a statement win in Chicago on Saturday and will now continue on their grueling seven-game road trip tonight for the second of three games in Western Canada. After a very slow start to the season, Anaheim has now gone 16-4-2 over their last 22 games and once again resemble the squad that entered the 2014-15 playoffs as the #1 seed in the Western Conference. They’ve scored at least three goals in 12 of their last 14 games and have an excellent matchup on tap tonight against the defensively inept Edmonton Oilers. Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry are both known commodities and excellent targets this evening, but there are finally other strong options here as well. David Perron has thrived with his new team, tallying three goals and four assists in eight games skating alongside Ryan Getzlaf at even strength. Mike Santorelli joins them on the top line and lit the lamp twice yesterday afternoon and has now scored four goals (and added an assist) over the last six games. On defense, Cam Fowler looks to be back to full speed and has picked up five assists in the last two games. He’s shares the duties on the point of the top power-play unit with Sami Vatanen which solidifies them both as fine options in all formats against the Oilers middling penalty kill.
While Connor McDavids return to the lineup has been exciting, the Oilers still find themselves sitting in the cellar of the Western Conference and know that their season will end in early April. They were shutout by this Anaheim squad in their last meeting and this is definitely a tough matchup as the Ducks are allowing just 2.35 goals against per game this season. McDavid has exploded for four goals and eight assists in seven games since returning to action after the all-star break and is still very reasonably priced on many sites. His presence has elevated the games of both Jordan Eberle and Benoit Pouliot who join him both on the top forward line and the #1 power-play unit. While they look like fine options despite the tough matchup, it is worth mentioning that Anaheim owns the NHL’s best penalty kill. Taylor Hall has taken the back seat since McDavid’s return and is marred into a season long five game pointless streak. He no longer finds himself skating with Leon Draisaitl and Teddy Purcell, but rather Mark Letestu and Zack Kassian. He’s certainly explosive enough to warrant GPP consideration, but I’m not willing to pay the big-ticket asking price for his services this evening. On defense, both Andrej Sekera and Justin Schultz share the duties on the point of the power-play, but Anaheim’s splendid penalty kill suppressed their value tonight.
Anaheim Ducks
CF%: 53.2, CP60: 108.3, 5×5 Differential: -12
Elite Options: Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, David Perron, Cam Fowler, Sami Vatanen
Secondary Options: Mike Santorelli, Rickard Rakell, Ryan Kesler, Hampus Lindholm
Edmonton Oilers
CF%: 48.6, CP60: 109.2, 5×5 Differential: -27
Elite Options: Connor McDavid
Secondary Options: Jordan Eberle, Benoit Pouliot, Taylor Hall, Andrej Sekera