NHL Grind Down: Tuesday, February 6th

by Ben (benwell311) Last Updated 2018-02-07 01:22:46 Premium Content Part of the product Combo Lite

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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.

Stackability Rating System (Offense):

Green : Friendly matchup at 5v5 and/or on the power play; multiple lines worth stacking
Yellow : Line specific matchup at 5v5 and/or friendly power play matchup
Orange : Stacking is best left for GPPs, secondary scoring units and/or power play in tough matchup
Red : Difficult 5v5 and/or power play matchup, stacking not advisable

Stackability Rating System (Goalies):

Green : Goalie has a plus draw and is playable in all formats
Yellow : There is risk at 5v5 or the penalty kill; iffy for cash games and better for GPPs
Orange : Realistic risk at 5v5 and the penalty kill; not advisable in cash games but viable in GPPs
Red : Elevated risk in all situations and not a recommend crease to chase

Team Ranking Key
CF = Corsi For = shot attempts generated
CA = Corsi Allowed = shot attempts allowed
xGF = expected goals scored
xGA = expected goals allowed
Numbers in parentheses denote the league ranking for the particular metric.

Vegas Golden Knights at Pittsburgh Penguins

Vegas Golden Knights					Pittsburgh Penguins
			Marc-Andre Fleury					Matt Murray
			Record					Record
			35-13-4					29-22-3
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	3.37	2.65	20.86	82.24	Team Stats	3.00	2.98	27.57	82.80

Golden Knights Offensive Outlook

5v5 (adj): 60.69 CF/60 (9) | 55.57 CA/60 (26) | 2.26 xGF/60 (15) | 2.04 xGA/60 (27)

Two of the league’s better offenses will meet up in Pittsburgh tonight. Vegas just keeps on rolling, as they are dominating at 5v5 and continually get the job done. They have one of the better 5v5 CF% in the league, and their top six is dangerous enough to make trouble for teams with only one defensive option.

The Penguins are no longer a defensive liability, and over the past month, they have been dominant at 5v5. There are still some holes in the blueline to exploit, and their style of play lends itself to end-to-end hockey. This would obviously benefit the Knights, who have had no problems scoring goals this year.

The top line on this team, in terms of productivity, is the trio of Jonathan Marchessault, Reilly Smith, and William Karlsson. They have elite underlying metrics, in possession, shot generation, and scoring chances created. In tougher matchups, they are a bit better to lean on than the line of James Neal, David Perron, and Erik Haula due to the stronger supporting numbers. The Neal line, for their part, have been electric as well, finally kept off the scoresheet last game (at WSH) after a long point streak. The Penguins don’t really hard-match their lines, but the Crosby line will likely spend more time against the Marchessault line and Malkin with Neal. On the year the Crosby line has had higher defensive metrics compared to the Malkin line.

Though this doesn’t scream must-play situation, I don’t think the matchup is one that will be too much trouble for the Knights. They just shape up more as secondary or tournament plays tonight.

Golden Knights Special Teams Outlook
Another reason to think of the Knights as more of a secondary option is that their power play draw isn’t great. The Penguins have been very tough on the penalty kill this year, keeping their shot attempts, scoring chances, and HD attempts allowed on the low end. Vegas’s power play numbers aren’t in the upper echelon of the league, so this isn’t a great spot for them.

Golden Knights Goaltending Outlook