NHL Grind Down: Tuesday, February 23rd - Page Two

by John Britt (jmbwngfn) Last Updated 2016-02-23 14:30:12

New York Islanders at Minnesota Wild – 08:00 PM EST

Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
New York Islanders					Minnesota Wild
			Thomas Greiss					Devan Dubnyk
			Record					Record
			31-19-7					27-22-10
Team Stats	2.81	2.47	19.00%	86.80%	Team Stats	2.64	2.47	18.60%	78.90%

The Islanders kicked off a brutal seven-game road trip with a solid 1-0 shutout victory over the New York Islanders on Friday. They should be well rested tonight as they’ll invade the Xcel Energy Center to battle the surging Minnesota Wild. Jack Capuano has created a very balanced scoring attack that may be partially responsible for the Islanders solid 31-19-7 record this season but also happens to be a bit of a headache for daily fantasy players. To further muddy the waters a bit tonight, New York has struggled their way to a 12-11-3 road record this season and the Wild have been solid defensively all season and have allowed just 2.28 goals per game on home ice. With that said, John Tavares may have seen his seven game scoring streak snapped on Friday night but has racked up seven goals and nine assists in his last 12 games. He’s joined by Ryan Strome and Mikhail Grabovski on the top line with Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen and Anders Lee joining him on the top power-play unit. Okposo trails just behind Tavares with 45 points in 55 games and has tallied three goals and seven assists in ten games since the break. On defense, Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuck are both locked into 20+ minutes of ice-time per game and log a healthy dose of playing time with the man advantage. Leddy has picked up points in five straight games and has posted a goal and eight assists in the last eight games. With the Wild owning just the 23rd ranked penalty kill in the NHL, both are fine plays in all formats.

After an absolutely disastrous start to the 2016 calendar year that saw the Wild go just 3-12-4, Minnesota has finally pulled out of their tailspin with a chance to save their season. They picked up an emotional win in the Stadium Series game on Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks and have now scored at least five goals in each game of their current four game winning streak. While this game has a bit of a “trap game” feeling to it, it’s hard to overlook the Wild’s recent success. While the top line containing both Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu is clearly the most obvious group to target, John Torchetti has been able to get production out of each of his top three lines lately. Jason Pominville has broke out of his scoring funk with goals in each of the last three games and has seemingly gain a nice rapport with the young Erik Haula who has surprised the hockey world with two goals and five assists in his last four games. Ryan Suter remains the top option on the blue-line and still carries a very reasonable asking price on FanDuel and former first-round pick Matt Dumba has turned things on lately with goals in each of the last two games and four goals and five assists in ten games during the month of February.

New York Islanders

CF%: 50.7, CP60: 112.1, 5×5 Differential: 9
Elite Options: John Tavares, Kyle Okposo, Nick Leddy
Secondary Options: Ryan Strome, Frans Nielsen, Anders Lee, Johnny Boychuck

Minnesota Wild

CF%: 47.9, CP60: 106.2, 5×5 Differential: 11
Elite Options: Zach Parise, Ryan Suter
Secondary Options: Mikko Koivu, Jason Pominville, Charlie Coyle, Erik Haula, Matt Dumba

Dallas Stars at Winnipeg Jets – 08:00 PM EST

Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Dallas Stars					Winnipeg Jets
			Kari Lehtonen					Ondrej Pavelec
			Record					Record
			37-17-6					25-29-4
Team Stats	3.20	2.78	21.10%	78.80%	Team Stats	2.53	2.90	16.70%	77.90%

The Stars have been blasted for 13 goals against in their last two games and have now dropped three straight games to fall back behind the Chicago Blackhawks in the Central Division. They’ll head to Winnipeg tonight to kick off a home-and-home series against a Winnipeg team who they’ve manhandled in all three prior meetings this season. Analyzing the Stars from a fantasy perspective has to start with their top line containing super starts Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and now Jason Spezza as well. It’s arguably the most dangerous forward line in the NHL and all three also joins forces on the top forward line. With the Winnipeg Jets not only being the second most penalized team in the NHL this season and sporting an ugly 77.9% penalty kill, all three are premier plays at their respective positions. Patrick Sharp and John Klingberg join those three on the top power-play unit and can be found at a comparative discount on most sites. Ales Hemsky has turning things on offensively lately with three goals and two assists in the last five games and has torched Winnipeg for a goal and three assists in two games this season making him a nice GPP target that will almost assuredly be overlooked tonight.

If the Jets didn’t think their season was over before, their recent three game losing skid pretty much sealed the deal. They’ve been dominated by this Dallas Stars team in their three prior meetings this season and it seems highly probable that this team will be chopped up before the end of the month. Andrew Ladd is one of the biggest names rumored to be on the trade market and, much to enjoyment of the Winnipeg front office, has lit the lamp three times over the last two games. He’ll join Mark Scheifele and Joel Armia on the second line, but Blake Wheeler once again looks like the top play here. Wheeler saw a four game point streak come to an end on Saturday in Florida, but has thrived on home ice where he owns 29 points in 27 games at the MTS Centre. He’ll skate with Mathieu Perreault and Nikolaj Ehlers on the top line as well as the #1 power-play unit and considering Dallas’ struggles defensively lately and their poor 78.8% penalty kill, all three are in play this evening. Dustin Byfuglien has posted 36 points in 58 games and can rack up fantasy points in just about every catagory available.

Dallas Stars

CF%: 53.5, CP60: 116.2, 5×5 Differential: 10
Elite Options: Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, Jason Spezza, John Klingberg
Secondary Options: Patrick Sharp, Ales Hemsky, Alex Goligoski

Winnipeg Jets

CF%: 51.7, CP60: 107, 5×5 Differential: -1
Elite Options: Blake Wheeler, Dustin Byfuglien
Secondary Options: Andrew Ladd, Nikolaj Ehlers, Mathieu Perreault

Ottawa Senators at Edmonton Oilers – 09:00 PM EST

Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Ottawa Senators					Edmonton Oilers
			Craig Anderson					Cam Talbot
			Record					Record
			28-26-6					22-32-6
Team Stats	2.77	3.03	17.60%	74.30%	Team Stats	2.43	3.03	18.10%	80.30%

The Senators may be the most inconsistent team in the NHL this season. After dropping three straight games to at the beginning of last week, they earned their third straight victory against the Red Wings on Saturday. They’ll kick off a three game tour of Western Canada tonight against the defensively challenged Oilers, making them a very appealing team to target. Erik Karlsson leads the team (and all NHL defensemen) with 65 points in 60 games this season and is easily the top defensive option on tonight’s slate. He posted a pair of assists against Edmonton in their only other meeting this season and is well worth the investment this evening. Up-front, the Senators are led by the dangerous forward line of Kyle Turris, Mike Hoffman and Mark Stone. While they’ve been quiet over the last week, they did account for both goals against Edmonton in that first meeting. Alternatively, Bobby Ryan and Mika Zibanejad will likely garner much less attention but have shown plenty of offensive upside and headline the #2 power-play unit.

Ever since Connor McDavid returned to this lineup after the break, Edmonton has been very friendly to fantasy owners. However, with a home matchup against an Ottawa team that has allowed more shots on goal against per game than any other team in the NHL while also allowing a league worst 3.52 goals against per game on the road this season, you’ll likely want some exposure here despite the fact that they’ve dropped seven of their last eight games. Todd McLellan finally did daily fantasy players a favor by reuniting Taylor Hall with Leon Draisaitl and Teddy Purcell on the top line with Connor McDavid still posting ridiculous numbers alongside Jordan Eberle and Benoit Pouliot. McDavid extended his scoring streak to three games with an assist against the Avalanche on Saturday and has now racked up five goals and 15 assists since returning after the all-star break. He handed out a pair of assists against the Senators in their only other meeting this season and, with his price still rather reasonable on several sites, he’ll be a tough fade in cash games. It’s a bit less appealing on the Edmonton blue-line, but both Andrej Sekera and Justin Schultz are fine GPP candidates.

Ottawa Senators

CF%: 47.3, CP60: 110.5, 5×5 Differential: -5
Elite Options: Mark Stone, Mike Hoffman, Erik Karlsson
Secondary Options: Bobby Ryan, Kyle Turris, Mika Zibanejad, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Dion Phaneuf

Edmonton Oilers

CF%: 49, CP60: 109.2, 5×5 Differential: -30
Elite Options: Taylor Hall, Connor McDavid, Jordan Eberle
Secondary Options: Leon Draisaitl, Benoit Pouliot, Teddy Purcell, Andrej Sekera

Calgary Flames at Los Angeles Kings – 10:30 PM EST

Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Calgary Flames					Los Angeles Kings
			Jonas Hiller					Jonathan Quick
			Record					Record
			26-29-3					34-20-4
Team Stats	2.72	3.07	15.60%	73.20%	Team Stats	2.67	2.33	22.20%	82.20%

The Flames were easily dismissed by the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday and have now dropped four of their last five games to fall well out of the playoff picture in the Western Conference. They’re arguably one of the most disappointing teams in the NHL this season and their front office looks poised to blow things up over the next week. Calgary is faced with the unenviable task of heading to the Staples Center to battle the Pacific Division leading Los Angeles Kings and with an ugly 9-16-3 road record this season, you’re probably better off looking elsewhere in cash games. The matchup is obviously tough, so digging much deeper than the top forward line of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Jiri Hudler is tough to justify. While they make catch a break with Anze Kopitar potentially sidelined, their home vs road splits make them much better suited for GPP use. On defense, Mark Giordano has posted the biggest offensive numbers this season, but it’s been T.J. Brodie on a hot streak recently. Brodie has dished out 11 assists over his last nine games and can be found at a small discount compared to Giordano.

With both the Sharks and the Ducks finally threatening the Kings lead in the Pacific Division, Los Angeles better pick up their sense of urgency after coasting through things over the last month. Los Angeles snapped a three game losing streak with a gutty performance without Anze Kopitar in the Music City and will be eager to return home after a seven game road trip. While Kopitar’s status is still very much in doubt tonight, the Kings cruised to an easy victory in their only other meeting against the Flames this season and Calgary has been a train wreck in their own defensive end this season. Operating under the assumption Kopitar is out of the lineup once again, Jeff Carter looks set to join Milan Lucic and Tyler Toffoli on the top forward line and #1 power-play unit. With Calgary owning the NHL’s worst penalty kill, all three forwards see a major fantasy boost in this matchup. Blue-liners Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin run the show from the point of that top power-play unit and are top tier defensive options tonight. Alternatively, Alec Martinez is still quiet cheap on many sites and sees a healthy dose of playing time on the point of the second power-play unit. While he may not have the same ceiling as his defensive buddies, he’s a fine target if you’re searching for some value.

Calgary Flames

CF%: 47.5, CP60: 110.7, 5×5 Differential: -11
Elite Options: None
Secondary Options: Johnny Gaudreau, Jiri Hudler, Sean Monahan, Mark Giordano, T.J. Brodie

Los Angeles Kings

CF%: 56.3, CP60: 110.8, 5×5 Differential: 3
Elite Options: Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli, Milan Lucic, Drew Doughty, Jake Muzzin
Secondary Options: Dustin Brown, Tanner Pearson, Alec Martinez