NHL Grind Down: Tuesday, October 18th - Page Two
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Florida Panthers at Tampa Bay Lightning
| Florida Panthers | Tampa Bay Lightning | ||||||||
 | James Reimer |  | Ben Bishop | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 47-26-9 | 46-31-5 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.83 | 1.00 | 16.90% | 79.50% | Team Stats | 2.73 | 3.00 | 15.80% | 84.00% |
It looks like last year with both teams from Florida occupying the top two spots in the Atlantic Conference. Both teams are 2-0 and if you recall, last year saw Florida winning the division with 103 points while Tampa was in second with 97. Ex-Lightning player Jonathan Marchessault has worked his way onto the top line with Jaromir Jagr and Aleksander Barkov, so it’s no wonder he leads the team in points with two goals and two assists. The second line that features Jussi Jokinen and Vincent Trocheck could be used for GPP play while third liner Dennis Malgin could possibly be a one-off GPP play as he has also found his way on the top power play unit as well along with defenseman Aaron Ekblad. Tampa has given up six goals in two games so it’s not out of the question for the Panthers to score a few tonight.
The Lightning are off to a good start by scoring nine goals in their first two games and the only thing that stands between them and scoring a few more tonight would be goaltender Roberto Luongo. It looks lie Ondrej Palat will be on the top power play unit along with line mate Steven Stamkos. Jonathan Drouin was there but looks like he will now play the point on the second power play unit. However this shakes out they do make up the top Tampa line and should be considered in play tonight on home ice.You cabn also use Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov as the play on the team’s second line and see some power play time as well. Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman are on the points and you can use either one tonight.
Elite Plays
FLA: Aleksander Barkov
TB: Steven Stamkos
Secondary Plays
FLA: Aaron Ekblad, Jonathan Marchessault
TB: Ondrej Palat, Jonathan Drouin, Nikita Kucherov, Tyler Johnson, Anton Stralman, Victor Hedman
Best Goaltender of the Night
TB: Ben Bishop
Los Angeles Kings at Minnesota Wild
| Los Angeles Kings | Minnesota Wild | ||||||||
 | Jeff Zatkoff |  | Devan Dubnyk | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 48-28-6 | 38-33-11 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.72 | 3.00 | 20.00% | 81.40% | Team Stats | 2.60 | 3.00 | 18.50% | 77.90% |
The Kings are off to a shaky start as they dropped their first two games without goaltender Jonathan Quick. Los Angeles has only managed three goals so far with Anze Kopitar and defenseman Drew Doughty having a hand in two of them. Kopitar’s line mate Tyler Toffoli has a goal but even putting them with Jeff Carter and defenseman Jake Muzzin is risky business while the team isn’t scoring. All five of these players play on the team’s top power play line and should be considered as GPP plays only. I can see rostering Carter as a one-off as they just moved Trevor Lewis to that line along with Teddy Purcell, who has been there but has zero shots in the first two games. The fact of the matter is, the Kings need a few more pieces to compete while Quick is out.
Minnesota lost a close game in St Louis before coming back home a beating the Winnipeg Jets by a score of 4-3. There are back on home is again tonight so there’s no reason not to fire up Zach Parise, Eric Staal and Charlie Coyle. Staal must feel relieved to have a team mate or two that is actually better than him, thus making him a bit more relaxed. This unit serves on the team’s top power play line with defensemen Ryan Suter and Jared Spurgeon. The second line features Mikko Koivu, Jason Pominville and Mikael Granlund but until these guys can prove they can score, I think sticking with the top line is the way to go tonight.
Elite Plays
LAK: None
MIN: None
Secondary Plays
LAK: Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter, Tyler Toffoli, Drew Doughty
MIN: Zach Parise, Eric Staal, Charlie Coyle, Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon
Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators
| Dallas Stars | Nashville Predators | ||||||||
 | Kari Lehtonen |  | Pekka Rinne | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 50-23-9 | 41-27-14 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 3.23 | 4.00 | 22.10% | 82.30% | Team Stats | 2.73 | 3.50 | 19.70% | 81.20% |
This should be pretty easy where Dallas is concerned. The top line of Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Patrick Eaves are three of the four players that lead the team in points with three over the first two games. They also play on the top power play unit together with Jason Spezza and defenseman John Klingberg. The other player who has three points is fourth liner Devin Shore while his linemates in Brett Ritchie and Lauri Korpikoski also have found the back of the net. A question has popped into my head as to whether or not we have seen the last of the ‘top six’ way of doing things or is it just a matter of the younger players today seem much better and faster than of past years. This could be a discussion for another day. Spezza centers the second line with Patrick Sharp but with Jiri Hudler sick and not making the trip, it’s tough to recommend the second line here.
UPDATE:
With Hudler out, Lindy Ruff has chose to put Spezza on the third line while Patrick Sharp, Brett Ritchie and the aforementioned Shore will skate on the second line. The only risk you have here is chemistry as I don’t mind using the second line in a GPP and Spezza as a one-off play tonight.
After splitting a home and home series the Predators come back to host another Central Division rival in the Dallas Stars. Nashville has scored three goals in each game and should be able to score at least that tonight. The top line of Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen and Kevin Fiala are in play, especially the former two as they get minutes on the team’s top power play unit. The second line of Mike Fisher, James Neal and Colin Wilson should be able to net at least one goal tonight, but again its Fisher and Neal who play on the top power play unit along with defenseman Roman Josi. We can’t forget about P.K. Subban either as he and Josi have tallied two points so far this season. Look for this game to have some goals in it as both teams have the firepower to score.
Elite Plays
DAL: Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn
NSH: P.K. Subban
Secondary Plays
DAK: Patrick Eaves, Jason Spezza, John Klingberg
NSH: Roman Josi, Ryan Johansen, Filip Forsberg, James Neal, Mike Fisher
Philadelphia Flyers at Chicago Blackhawks
| Philadelphia Flyers | Chicago Blackhawks | ||||||||
 | Steve Mason |  | Corey Crawford | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 41-27-14 | 47-26-9 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.57 | 3.00 | 18.90% | 80.50% | Team Stats | 2.85 | 3.67 | 22.60% | 80.30% |
This should be a fun one to watch as the Flyers seem to be a little better than last year and the Hawks maybe a little worse. Philadelphia beat the Kings Friday night and lost in overtime Saturday night in Arizona and for the life of me I can’t figure out how Brandon Manning leads the team with three assists. The second line of Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny and Jakub Voracek should see some room on the ice while the Hawks are trying to stop the top line that features Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds. Both Shayne Gostisbehere and Ivan Provorov have tallied an assist but it is Gostisbehere who plays on the top power play unit with Giroux, Voracek, Simmonds and Nick Cousins. Michal Neuvirth is expected to be between the pipes so just maybe the Steve Mason era is coming to a close.
The great ‘Joel Quenneville Blender Experiment’ is back in action yet again as this time we find Tyler Motte on a line with Jonathan Toews and newly minted hat trick maker Richard Panik on one of the team’s top lines. This would normally make a decent GPP line had it not been for Panik’s hat trick, thus drawing more attention to them. Patrick Kane has once again been reunited with Artem Anisimov and Artemi Panarin. This is the line I would target tonight on home ice tonight as Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook are your options on the back line. One has to assume that the latter five will get the lion’s share of the power play time as well.
Elite Plays
PHL: None
CHI: Patrick Kane
Secondary Plays
PHL: Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds, Shayne Gostisbehere, Jakub Voracek, Travis Konecny
CHI: Artemi Panarin, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Jonathan Toews
Buffalo Sabres at Calgary Flames
| Buffalo Sabres | Calgary Flames | ||||||||
 | Robin Lehner |  | Chad Johnson | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 35-36-11 | 35-40-7 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.43 | 3.00 | 18.90% | 82.60% | Team Stats | 2.79 | 4.33 | 17.00% | 75.50% |
Much like the Buffalo at Edmonton game on Sunday night, it’s awfully hard to predict what is going to happen when two bad teams play against each other. It looks like head coach Dan Bylsma is going with the same approach he used in Pittsburgh as Ryan O’Reilly, Kyle Okposo, Matt Moulson, Sam Reinhart and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen received 80% of the power play time in their 6-2 win over Edmonton. It struck for two goals in that game and could be in for some time with the man advantage tonight against the Flames who lead the league in Minor penalties with 18 of them in three games. All five lead the team along with Brian Gionta with two points apiece. I’m not sure how many Buffalo will score, but they should certainly have enough opportunities.
Its status quo for the Flames when the play at home as Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan will no doubt be seen in some of your cash games tonight. Kris Versteeg completes the team’s top line while Troy Brouwer, Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk skate on the slumping second line. Brouwer is the only play from that line as Mark Giordano and fellow defenseman Dougie Hamilton join him on the team’s top power play unit. Mikael Backlund could be considered as a GPP one-off play here as he somehow has managed three assists on the eight goals Calgary has scored.
Elite Plays
BUF: None
CGY: Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan
Secondary Plays
BUF: Kyle Okposo, Ryan O’Reilly, Rasmus Ristolainen, Sam Reinhart, Matt Moulson
CGY: Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton, Troy Brouwer