NHL Grind Down: Tuesday, February 9th - Page Two
Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens – 07:30 PM EST
| Tampa Bay Lightning | Montreal Canadiens | ||||||||
 |  | ||||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 29-18-4 | |||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.69 | 2.31 | 19.30% | 81.70% | Team Stats | 2.65 | 2.65 | 18.00% | 83.60% |
Last night was one to forget for the Bolts as they were clobbered by the Senators 5:1. Before this loss, they were 10-1 in their previous 11 games, so expect them to play much better tonight against a team who has been in a long struggle for a while now. The most interesting option from Tampa Bay comes in the form of Nikita Kucherov who has is averaging more than a point per game since a miserable October. Of further interest is his linemate Tyler Johnson who has fired five shots on goal in each of his last three games. The situation isn’t ideal for the Lightning, but they’ve bullied better versions of the Habs for a while now. Goalie Ben Bishop, who has a 1.76 GAA in his last six starts, has a good chance to get a win tonight and should see a healthy amount of shots.
Montreal came out of the break just the way they went into it – playing awful hockey. However, they found a temporary remedy thanks to Edmonton and followed that up with a shootout victory the next night vs. Carolina. Ben Scrivens has found a little form here but draws a very difficult matchup vs. Tampa Bay who has been scoring three or more on a regular basis. With Montreal shuffling their lines, there isn’t much to like at all in the home team outside of P.K. Subban who has points in seven straight while logging big minutes. Brendan Gallagher offers decent value at wing, but he is much more preferable when skating alongside Max Pacioretty.
Elite Plays
TB: Nikita Kucherov
MTL: P.K. Subban
Secondary Plays
TB: Tyler Johnson, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman, Ben Bishop
MTL: Brendan Gallagher, Max Pacioretty
Dallas Stars at Minnesota Wild – 08:00 PM EST
| Dallas Stars | Minnesota Wild | ||||||||
 | Kari Lehtonen |  | Devan Dubnyk | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 33-15-5 | 23-20-9 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 3.21 | 2.68 | 20.90% | 80.00% | Team Stats | 2.44 | 2.42 | 17.50% | 78.40% |
Dallas was embarrassed the other night at home by the Blackhawks 5:1 but find themselves in a better matchup tonight vs. the Wild who have dropped five straight while managing only 10 goals. Additionally, they are without defensemen Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon which will make their matters even worse. Thus, although Dallas has been average at best lately, studs Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin should be targeted in all formats. Benn called out his team following the loss to the Blackhawks the other night, so expect a big effort from the captain. His salary has also come down, as has Seguin’s since their torrid pace at the beginning of the year. Attention should also be focused on defenseman John Klingberg who has 43 points in 53 games. Fourteen of those points have come with the man-advantage. Furthermore, Dubnyk has been getting torched lately. He’s dropped eight consecutive starts and has allowed 12 goals in three games since the break.
As was mentioned, the Wild are missing Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon tonight. They scratched Thomas Vanek and Jason Zucker the other night in effort to shake things up. This would usually be a spot where you could expect a guy like Parise to be involved, but at the moment, Minnesota can do nothing right and until they do, they are best avoided unless you want to crash a GPP party. Some might look to Ryan Suter since he’s been productive this season, but he will be tasked with the duties of containing the Benn-Seguin line.
Elite Plays
DAL: Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, John Klingberg
MIN: None
Secondary Plays
DAL: Patrick Eaves
MIN: Zach Parise
Washington Capitals at Nashville Predators – 08:00 PM EST
| Washington Capitals | Nashville Predators | ||||||||
 | Braden Holtby |  | Pekka Rinne | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 38-9-4 | 25-20-8 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 3.25 | 2.24 | 24.20% | 84.10% | Team Stats | 2.57 | 2.62 | 19.50% | 78.70% |
The NHL’s best team visits Nashville tonight in what should be a close game. Alexander Ovechkin continues to score and the Capitals continue to win. The great 8 has 30 goals already this season with a sterling +22 and draws a favorable matchup against the Predators who have struggled on the penalty kill all season, ranking near the bottom of the league. Ovechkin should get his usual five shots a game which is great for cash games and also find the back of the net. His linemate Nicklas Backstrom is one of the league’s most under appreciated studs and offers exposure to Ovechkin if you would like to save a little money. Additionally, young Evgeny Kuznetsov, who is having a breakout season, is also in play tonight. He’s been fantastic on the road, where he’s logged 25 points (9 goals, 16 assists) in as many games.
Nashville broke out in a big way vs. San Jose the other night as they put up six goals. This followed two disappointing losses at home, one of which was a shutout and another was a 6:3 disaster vs. the Flyers. Nashville has been very inconsistent all season long, so none of their guys can really be used in cash games; however, if you are looking for contrarian plays, then Ryan Johansen deserves a good look. He has been dynamite as a Predator, recording 14 points (4 goals, 10 assists) in 13 games. He’s playing alongside James Neal at even strength and top power-play unit. Neal himself has been playing well, generally alternating games in which he scores and doesn’t score.
Elite Plays
WSH: Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeny Kuznetsov
NSH: Ryan Johansen
Secondary Plays
WSH: T.J. Oshie, John Carlson
NSH: James Neal
Winnipeg Jets at St. Louis Blues – 08:00 PM EST
| Winnipeg Jets | St. Louis Blues | ||||||||
 | Connor Hellebuyck |  | Brian Elliott | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 23-26-3 | 30-17-8 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.62 | 2.88 | 17.10% | 77.00% | Team Stats | 2.40 | 2.35 | 20.10% | 85.80% |
Well, the Jets announced yesterday that they have signed defenseman Dustin Byfuglien to a five year contract extension. Byfuglien is tied for second in the league for goals by defensemen (15) and also leads his team in shots on goal. He has six points in his last five games, but a road visit to the Scottrade Center isn’t the greatest place to play. However, the Blues have struggled recently, especially on the offensive end, and are now without their best defensive defensemen in Alex Pietrangelo. This should lead to a few more opportunities for the Jets offense as a whole, and they seem to play their best as underdogs. This makes Blake Wheeler, who is averaging almost a point per game a decent secondary option and off-the-wall GPP target.
What was once a trustworthy offense, especially at home vs. an average team, the Blues have struggled to find the back of the net lately. Until their three power-play conversions vs. the stumbling Wild, St. Louis had gone eight games (0 for 19) with the man advantage. The good news for them tonight however is that the Jets have spent the most time in the box of all the NHL teams this season. As a result, this makes Vladimir Tarasenko a fantastic option tonight. In his young career, the gifted Russian has 10 points (5 goals, 5 assists) in 11 games vs. the Jets. In his most recent game against them, he tallied a goal and two assists. He’s been very quiet lately, but the matchup tonight is fantastic. Look for him and other Blues to find some cracks in the Jets penalty kill.
Elite Plays
WPG: None
STL: Vladimir Tarasenko, Kevin Shattenkirk
Secondary Plays
WPG: Blake Wheeler, Dustin Byfuglien
STL: Alexander Steen, Paul Stastny
San Jose Sharks at Chicago Blackhawks – 08:30 PM EST
| San Jose Sharks | Chicago Blackhawks | ||||||||
 |  | Corey Crawford | |||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 27-20-4 | 36-16-4 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.88 | 2.71 | 22.10% | 80.40% | Team Stats | 2.82 | 2.29 | 20.60% | 82.70% |
The Sharks had a night to forget in Nashville a few days ago, but they had been playing well until then as they were in a 9-2-2 stretch over the past month. Martin Jones will get the nod for the Sharks and he’s played some of his best hockey on the road this season. However, going into the United Center where the Hawks are 21-5-1 will be his stiffest challenge yet. Additionally, although the Sharks have had a productive offense, Blackhawks’ goalie Corey Crawford has been absolutely dominant on home ice this season where he has already recorded seven shutouts and a minuscule 1.59 GAA. There’s no reason to test him tonight.
The Blackhawks are coming off back-to-back five goal efforts courtesy of the Panarin-Anisimov-Kane line. Patrick Kane has a ridiculous 76 points (32 goals, 44 assists) in 56 games this year and has been an absolute monster on home ice where he has 15 goals, 23 assists and is +22 in 27 games. He is one of the safest, if not the safest option night in, night out. In addition to Kane is his linemate, rookie Artemi Panarin who leads all rookies in scoring also makes for a fine option, but be careful as he did not participate in the morning skate and is a game-time decision due to illness. Artem Anisimov had a monster outing the other night and is also a safe play considering tonight’s slate.
SJ: None
CHI: Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin (Questionable), Corey Crawford
Secondary Plays
SJ: Joe Pavelski
CHI: Artem Anisimov, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith