NHL Grind Down: Tuesday, March 27th

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

Carolina Hurricanes at New Jersey Devils

Carolina Hurricanes					New Jersey Devils
			Scott Darling					Keith Kinkaid
			Record					Record
			34-31-11					39-28-8
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	2.73	3.15	19.47	77.65	Team Stats	2.93	2.95	20.35	81.74

Hurricanes Offensive Outlook

5v5 (adj): 63.24 CF/60 (3) | 53.37 CA/60 (30) | 2.45 xGF/60 (7) | 2.17 xGA/60 (22)

If the Hurricanes want to keep their (dim) playoff hopes alive, they’re going to need to add two points tonight. New Jersey, desperate in their own right, has slowed some high powered offenses of late. They tend to play better defense on home ice, where they are among the better teams in limiting high-danger shot attempts. This is still a vulnerable group, though, as the blueline isn’t overly impressive and we’ve seen some weakness in their 5v5 CA/60 over the last month of play.

We know the drill pretty well with Carolina at this point, after a long season of results similar to what they have been over the past several years. The 5v5 metrics point to a dominant offense, but the finish is often lacking for whatever reason. Goals haven’t been as hard to come by lately as the offense is perking up while playing some poor defensive teams.

Carolina’s offense is actually set up pretty well. We know they’ll be able to push play and pace at 5v5, especially as New Jersey isn’t exactly proficient there. The lines are pretty balanced as well right now. The shiny new toy here is Valentin Zykov, who has done nothing but produce since being called up and playing with Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen. The sample is obviously very small here and the opponents haven’t been of the best quality, but this line has been quite productive at 5v5, massing shot attempts and scoring chances. Aho and Teravainen work together on the power play and these two have had less of an issue with “finish” than many on the roster have.

Zykov’s ascension and spot with Aho-Teravainen means Jordan Staal is off to another role. He’s working with Justin Williams and Brock McGinn, so he hasn’t been relegated to the gulag or anything. Williams remains a solid linemate as he pushes play well, so this line should be able to work into the New Jersey zone effectively. Jeff Skinner has been seeing a bit of puck luck, finally, even if his shot volumes are still a bit erratic and off his usual high pace. He’s skating with Elias Lindholm, who can’t seem to put it all together, and Phil Di Giuseppe. Note that Justin Faulk has been out the last few games, so Jaccob Slavin and Noah Hanifin are the main puck moving blueliners now.