NHL Grind Down: Tuesday, March 20th

by Ben (benwell311) Last Updated 2018-04-04 01:46:10 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.

Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Rangers

Columbus Blue Jackets					New York Rangers
			Sergei Bobrovsky					Henrik Lundqvist
			Record					Record
			40-28-5					32-32-8
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	2.69	2.71	15.58	77.60	Team Stats	2.83	3.14	21.33	82.65

Blue Jackets Offensive Outlook

5v5 (adj): 61.02 CF/60 (9) | 56.54 CA/60 (21) | 2.58 xGF/60 (1) | 2.42 xGA/60 (8)

The Blue Jackets had a tough on-paper matchup last night, and they couldn’t really ask for a better one tonight. The Rangers are one of the worst defensive teams in the league, with virtually no semblance of a functioning system at this point. They have the league’s highest rate of expected goals allowed at 5v5 and they struggle on the penalty kill as well. New York enters this game allowing the most shot attempts at 5v5 over the last month, allowing about 5% more than the second worst team (Ottawa). Allowing close to 70 shot attempts plus having some of the highest rates of scoring chances and HD shot attempts allowed is good news for Columbus.

Not that the Jackets need much help, mind you. They enter this game having claimed the league lead for highest rate of expected goals at 5v5. They have been flying high of late, and the secondary scoring has been getting in on the fun as well. There are some nice budget plays on this roster if looking to save some cap space in cash games. Playing back-to-back against a rested home opponent isn’t ideal, but New York has been so bad defensively it’s hard to knock the Jackets too much.

The top line of Cam Atkinson, Artemi Panarin, and Pierre-Luc Dubois have some outstanding numbers, both in terms of shot and chance production rates as well as realized results. After dealing with Brad Marchand last night, they should welcome tonight’s draw even if they do get the Zibanejad line (but hopefully it’s the Hayes line). In any event they are a high end group in this favorable draw. Cheaper options that have been playing well include the second line of Boone Jenner, Thomas Vanek, and Alex Wennberg and Sonny Milano and Oliver Bjorkstrand on the third line. Milano and Bjorkstrand trade a strong 5v5 matchup against a weak New York depth group for more limited time on ice.

Blue Jackets Special Teams Outlook
The Rangers see their defensive struggle carry over the penalty kill, as they have limited overall shot attempts well but have struggled with scoring chances and high-danger shot attempts allowed. Columbus’s power play has been the least productive group in the league this year, and with Seth Jones potentially out of commission, they could struggle to capitalize here. They’ve been playing better of late, at least.

Blue Jackets Goaltending Outlook
With Joonas Korpisalo playing in Boston last night, Sergei Bobrovsky will get the upstart Ranger offense tonight. They’ve been a pretty successful group despite their white flag waving at the trade deadline. The song remains the same for the Rangers: They struggle to carry play at 5v5, but they create an elevated rate of high-danger shot attempts comparatively. Columbus’s defense is in great form at the moment, though Bobrovsky would certainly benefit from a healthy Seth Jones. Bobrovsky should be in the line for the win, though his price is a bit elevated for a road matchup against a team that may not pad his save total and will challenge with a high mix of high-danger shot attempts.

Rangers Offensive Outlook

5v5 (adj): 52.52 CF/60 (30) | 64.25 CA/60 (2) | 2.42 xGF/60 (9) | 2.62 xGA/60 (1)