NHL Grind Down: Tuesday, January 12th

by John Britt (jmbwngfn) Last Updated 2016-01-13 17:41:44

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.

Pittsburgh Penguins at Carolina Hurricanes – 07:00 PM EST

Pittsburgh Penguins					Carolina Hurricanes
			Marc-Andre Fleury					Cam Ward
			Record					Record
			20-16-5					18-18-7
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	2.34	2.37	19.00%	85.20%	Team Stats	2.37	2.72	16.80%	79.80%

The Penguins find themselves in the midst of a very tough part of their schedule right now, but they picked up a huge win in Montreal on Saturday and will head to Carolina looking to avenge a 2-1 loss to the Hurricanes last month. While Carolina may have walked away with two points in that first meeting, Pittsburgh carried play after allowing two early power-play goals but were just unable to solve Cam Ward. Breaking down the Penguins from a fantasy perspective is pretty straight forward; both of their top two lines are extremely dangerous and capable of erupting on any given night. Both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin appear to be coming alive offensively lately with Crosby leading Chris Kunitz and David Perron on the top line and Malkin skating between Phil Kessel and Patric Hornqvist on the second line. While Carolina has played solid defense throug the majority of the season and are allowing a league low 26.2 SA/G, overlooking the Penguins tonight could be dangerous. Kris Letang looks to be back to full health and has poured in three goals and eight assists over his last seven games. He’s locked into 25+ minutes of playing time per night and runs things on the point of the lethal #1 power-play unit.

Carolina completed a home-and-home sweep of the Columbus Blue Jackets over the weekend, but will face a much stiffer test tonight as the Pittsburgh Penguins invade the PNC Arena in Raleigh. While the Penguins may be better known for their offensive firepower, it’s worth noting that they’ve allowed just 2.37 goals against per game this season and were happy to welcome Marc-Andre Fleury back to the lineup last week. Carolina will likely be content in trying slow this game down as much as possible and attempt to grind their way to two points. While that approach worked for a 2-1 victory in their only other meeting this season, it’s obviously not a recipe for fantasy goodness. Up front, Jordan Staal has been sizziling lately as he’s posted a goal and an assist in three straight games. Meanwhile his brother Eric has picked up an assist in each of the last two games and continues to headline the ‘Canes top forward line alongside Kris Versteeg and Elias Lindholm. Justin Faulk continues to lead the team with 31 points (14 goals and 17 assists) but has cooled off a bit lately and sees his fantasy value take a big of a hit against the Penguins impressive 85.2% penalty kill.

Elite Options

PIT: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel, Kris Letang
CAR: None

Secondary Options

PIT: David Perron, Chris Kunitz, Patric Hornqvist, Olli Maatta
CAR: Eric Staal, Jordan Staal, Kris Versteeg, Jeff Skinner, Justin Faulk

Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Islanders – 07:00 PM EST

Columbus Blue Jackets					New York Islanders
			Sergei Bobrovsky					Jaroslav Halak
			Record					Record
			15-24-4					22-15-5
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	2.49	3.21	18.20%	80.50%	Team Stats	2.64	2.50	17.80%	86.40%

The Blue Jackets made big news last week by shipping off Ryan Johansen for Seth Jones, but they subsequently dropped both halves of a home-and-home series against the Carolina Panthers and will now head to Brookyln sporting the worst record in the NHL. They’ve posted an ugly 8-15-0 record on the road this season and have been defeated by the Islanders in both prior meetings this season. Columbus added Nick Foligno to the list of their wounded on Friday and his absense coupled by the Johansen trade suddenly leaves the Blue Jackets rather thin upfront. With that said, they still possess two very capable scoring lines with Alexander Wennberg skating between Scott Hartnell and Brandon Saad on the top line and Brandon Dubinsky centering Cam Atkinson and Boone Jenner on another. On defense, the foursome of Seth Jones, Ryan Murray, Jack Johnson and David Savard all share time on the point of the power-play, but with New York sporting an impressive 86.4% penalty kill, their ceilings are somewhat limited.

The Islanders will open a three game home-stand tonight desperately looking to gain some momentum after posting just a 4-7-0 record over their last eleven games. They’ve posted a 13-7-2 record on home ice this season and had their way with the Columbus Blue Jackets in their two previous meetings, which adds some appeal to this lineup tonight. The Blue Jackets have allowed a league worst 3.21 goals against per game this season and the Sergei Bobrovsky injury has left them with Anton Forsberg and Joonas Korpisalo as the only two options in net. Jack Capuano will attack the suspect Columbus defense with three capable scoring lines, but it’s John Tavares and Kyle Okposo that look like the strongest options. Okposo actually leads the team in scoring (31) points and has scored two goals and added an assist in the two meetings against Columbus this season. Tavares has been rather quiet lately, but he’s posted 7 goals and 11 assists in 20 home games and his recent “struggles” have deflated his asking price across the industry. With Johnny Boychuck out for several weeks and Travis Hamonic nursing a lower body injury, Nick Leddy looks slated for all the ice-time he can handle. He’s picked up a goal and five assists over the last seven games and quarterbacks the very dangerous #1 power-play unit which bodes well for him against the most penalized team in the NHL this season.

Elite Options

CBJ: Scott Hartnell
NYI: John Tavares, Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen, Nick Leddy

Secondary Options

CBJ: Brandon Dubinsky, Brandon Saad, Boone Jenner, Seth Jones, Ryan Murray, Jack Johnson
NYI: Anders Lee, Brock Nelson, Josh Bailey

San Jose Sharks at Winnipeg Jets – 08:00 PM EST

San Jose Sharks					Winnipeg Jets
			Martin Jones					Ondrej Pavelec
			Record					Record
			19-18-2					19-20-3
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	2.77	2.77	20.60%	81.80%	Team Stats	2.64	2.83	15.40%	77.10%

San Jose found themselves locked into an offensive shootout last night in Calgary and after escaping Alberta with a 5-4 victory, they’ll head to Winnipeg on a very much needed two game winning streak. While Logan Couture return has given the Sharks plenty of forward depth, the duo of Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton (with Tomas Hertl) have provided Peter DeBoer the most consistent offense lately. However, with the Jets not only being one of the most penalized teams in the NHL this season, but also owning an unattractive 77.1% penalty kill, I’ll be focusing my attention on the San Jose power-play. Obviously that solidifies Thornton and Pavelski as terrific options, but propels both Patrick Marleau and Logan Couture up my rankings this evening. On defense, Brent Burns is a unique talent. The “defenseman” extended his scoring streak to eight games last night with a goal and an assist and has now amassed nine goals and nine assists over the last 11 games.

Despite outshooting the Buffalo Sabres 44-29 on Sunday afternoon, Winnipeg lost 4-2 and have now sputtered their way to just a 6-8-1 record over their last 15 games. The Jets find themselves sitting in the cellar of the Central Division and simply can’t afford to drop winnable home games like this one any longer if they have any hopes of making a push into the playoff picture. Winnipeg has shuffled up their forward lines a bit recently, but the top line of Drew Stafford, Bryan Little and Blake Wheeler are easily the top options. While they’ll likely see a very heavy dose of Logan Couture pestering defense, the trio still can’t be overlooked. Blake Wheeler leads the way with 41 points in 42 games and dished out a pair of assists against San Jose in their first meeting. Dustin Byfuglien is the NHL’s version of a “5-tool player” and is the clear #1 option from the Jets blue-line, but fellow monster Tyler Myers deserves a mention as well as he’s logging huge minutes each night and has picked up a goal and three assists over the last four games.

Elite Options

SAN: Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture, Joe Thornton, Brent Burns
WPG: Blake Wheeler, Bryan Little, Dustin Byfuglien

Secondary Options

SAN: Patrick Marleau, Tomas Hertl, Joel Ward
WPG: Andrew Ladd, Drew Stafford, Mathieu Perreault, Tyler Myers

New Jersey Devils at St. Louis Blues – 08:00 PM EST

New Jersey Devils					St. Louis Blues
			Cory Schneider
			Record					Record
			21-17-5					24-14-7
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	2.21	2.28	18.70%	82.70%	Team Stats	2.40	2.44	21.10%	85.60%

The Devils snapped a three game losing streak with a much needed victory in Minnesota on Sunday and will continue their four game road trip tonight in the shadows of the Gateway Arch. Michael Cammalleri is once again doubtful to lace things up tonight and this New Jersey team has really struggled to find any semblance of offense in his absence. This is the slowest paced team in the NHL, and although they benefit (slightly) from Jake Allen injury, St. Louis has only allowed 2.26 goals against per game at the Scottrade Center this season. This is a situation I’ll be avoiding in my cash games, but both Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri have looked dangerous at times on the top forward line and see a healthy dose of playing time alongside the talented Adam Henrique on the #1 power-play unit. You could do worse than those three if you’re searching for some scarcily owned scoring in GPP’s.

After dropping five straight games, the Blues managed to salvage some degree of momentum as they closed out their three game road trip with an impressive victory against the Kings at the Staples Center. Injuries are starting to catch up with this team and tired legs are a bit of a concern after each of their last four games has pushed into overtime. With that said, they’ll be very pleased to hit the ice at the Scottrade Center and are solid favorites by Vegas standards tonight. It’s not a secret that Vladimir Tarasenko is the focal point of this offense…. and things should be no different tonight. The sniper has tallied 24 goals and 20 assists in 43 games this season and looks to be growing a nice rapport with new (and cheap) linemates Jori Lehtera and Robby Fabbri. WIth Paul Stastny now sidelined, both Alex Steen and David Backes join Tarasenko and Lehtera on the #1 power-play unit and both Patrik Berglund and Troy Brouwer are slated for some extra playing time on the second unit. Kevin Shattenkirk has been held off the scoresheet in each of the last three games but has still posted 25 points in 35 games and is a major weapon from the point of the #1 power-play unit.

Elite Options

NJD: None
STL: Vladimir Tarasenko, Alexander Steen, Kevin Shattenkirk

Secondary Options

NJD: Kyle Palmieri, Adam Henrique, Travis Zajac, Lee Stempniak
STL: David Backes, Jori Lehtera, Troy Brouwer, Alex Pietrangelo, Colton Parayko

Buffalo Sabres at Minnesota Wild – 08:00 PM EST

Buffalo Sabres					Minnesota Wild
			Robin Lehner					Devan Dubnyk
			Record					Record
			16-22-4					22-12-8
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	2.29	2.67	20.30%	76.80%	Team Stats	2.64	2.33	17.90%	79.20%

Evander Kane was very pleased to pick up a victory against his old team on Sunday, but that doesn’t change the fact that this Buffalo team had dropped six straight games prior and own just a 8-14-4 record since their somewhat surprising 8-8-0 start. A road game against the defensively solid Minnesota Wild makes it pretty easy for me to fade this Buffalo team in my cash games tonight with 15 other teams to choose from. However, we saw Sam Reinhart posted his first NHL hat trick and teams up with phenom Jack Eichel (and Zemgus Girgensons) to give the team a very real offensive threat behind the top line of Ryan O’Reilly, Evander Kane and Jamie McGinn. Rasmus Ristolainen has continued his breakout season on the Sabres blue-line and now finds himself with 27 points through 42 games.

The Wild added to the state of Minnesota’s sports misery on Sunday by falling 2-1 in an extremely unattractive hockey game. However, they’ve posted a very strong 14-6-2 record at the Xcel Energy Center this season and tonight’s matchup against the struggling Buffalo Sabres brings reason for optimism. Zach Parise has lit the lamp five times of the last four games and is the premier play of the evening from Minnesota. He’ll line up Mikko Koivu and Jason Zucker on the top forward line that deserves your attention. Perhaps more importantly considering the Sabres atrocious penalty kill, Parise is joined by Koivu, Tomas Vanek, Mikael Granlund and Ryan Suter on the #1 power-play unit. All five guys look like fine plays in all formats. Jason Pominville has been held off the scoresheet in each of the last eight games and no longer sees much (if any) playing time alongside Zach Parise, which is a huge blow to his fantasy value even in this plus matchup.

Elite Options

BUF: None
MIN: Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu, Ryan Suter

Secondary Options

BUF: Jack Eichel, Evander Kane, Sam Reinhart, Ryan O’Reilly, Rasmus Ristolainen
MIN: Jason Zucker, Thomas Vanek, Jared Spurgeon

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