NHL Grind Down: Tuesday, October 31st

by Ben (benwell311) Last Updated 2017-10-31 19:19:23 Premium Content Part of the product SimLabs+

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

Vegas Golden Knights at New York Rangers

Vegas Golden Knights					New York Rangers
			Maxime Lagace					Henrik Lundqvist
			Record					Record
			8-2-0					3-7-2
Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%	Stats	GF/GP	GA/GP	PP%	PK%
Team Stats	3.78	2.11	15.38	86.21	Team Stats	2.83	3.50	19.15	77.78

Golden Knights Offensive Outlook

5v5 (adj) (10 games): 58.32 CF/60 (17) | 62.04 CA/60 (4) | 2.24 xGF/60 (16) | 2.25 xGA/60 (17)

The Golden Knights will make it two games in consecutive nights on the East Coast. The offense will get a favorable matchup against a struggling Ranger offense. New York has had a hard time suppression shot attempts, scoring chances, and high-danger shot attempts at 5v5 this year. They have one of the highest 5v5 xGA/60 and their goaltender isn’t at the point where he can routinely steal games.

Of course, Vegas doesn’t have a high-octane offense and has been riding the wave of luck to start the year. On a three game slate, taking a risk and picking the overachieving upstarts in a favorable draw despite a bad situation may prove fortuitous.

It’s hard to know where Vegas’s production will come from on the road as they haven’t had many road games thus far, especially over the past little while (not to mention their poor possession metrics). Cody Eakin, David Perron, and James Neal grab the headlines but they shouldn’t be confused for a high-end line. Neal is the only reasonable play here and a line stack is risky.

Jonathan Marchessault is a high event player that moves the needle for DFS purposes. His speed should come in handy tonight against the struggling Ranger defense. Like Neal he is a fine one-off but the line stack becomes tricky as the aggregate upside is limited. He skates with William Karlsson and Reilly Smith.

The Vegas third line has probably the worst draw of the night. Alex Tuch has been a revelation for the Golden Knights, but he, former Ranger Oscar Lindberg, and Erik Haula could see a majority of their time against the Chris Kreider line for New York. That’s about as bad of a draw as it gets here, as Kreider (and Mats Zuccarello) are two of the better possession players for the Rangers.

Keep an eye on the beat reports’ reports, but Shea Theodore being a regular player for the Knights is a big deal. Theodore is a DFS friendly blueliner as he has the tools to contribute offensively and does well in a power play role with great responsibility. His activation figures to sap some value from Nate Schmidt and Colin Miller, who were punt plays with upside that never really materialized. Perhaps the same thing happens with Theodore, but the kid is good.