NHL Grind Down: Wednesday, January 4th
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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.
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Winnipeg Jets at Florida Panthers
| Winnipeg Jets | Florida Panthers | ||||||||
 | Michael Hutchinson |  | Roberto Luongo | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 18-19-3 | 16-14-8 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.68 | 3.00 | 16.90% | 75.90% | Team Stats | 2.34 | 2.61 | 16.10% | 84.20% |
The Winnipeg Jets kept themselves in the playoff race last night by beating the Tampa Bay Lightning by a score of 6-4. As I mentioned in yesterday’s Grind Down their problem is not scoring but keeping the puck out of their own net. Tonight they will try to turn the same trick as they stay in the Sunshine State to take on the Florida Panthers. The top line of Nikolaj Ehlers, Patrik Laine and Mark Scheifele is usually the line to target and tonight is no different as Scheifele leads the team with 35 points while each of his line mates have found the score sheet 34 times so far this season. The second line that features Blake Wheeler and Bryan Little isn’t a bad play either as Wheeler has six points over the last five games backed by a team leading 18 shots over that time frame. Nic Petan jumps up from the third line to skate with the Scheifele line when the team goes on the power play so he can be used as a one-off in tournament play if you need some salary relief. Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien leads the team from the back line with 115 shots and 24 points but the Jets have been using Jacob Trouba on the top power play unit. The promotion seems to have boosted Trouba’s confidence a bit as he has recorded half of his 12 points over the last five games. Trouba makes for a cheaper option on the back line if you want to roster a Winnipeg defenseman. It’s the same old song and dance here, the Jets can score but need to play better defense to win on most nights.
After losing four games in a row the Florida Panthers were able to beat the Dallas Stars by a score of 3-1 last Saturday night which has the team just two points away from the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. It will be an uphill battle however as their team leader in points has been placed in the injured reserve list. Vincent Trocheck has been placed on the top line to skate along with Jaromir Jagr and Seth Griffith in the absence of Aleksander Barkov. This should be the line to target against a weak defensive team as both Trocheck and Jagr have a combined nine points over the last five games. For some reason the Panthers insist on using three players from three different lines to form their top power play unit. Nick Bjugstad is tapped from the second line as he centers Jussi Jokinen and Reilly Smith while Jonathan Marchessault jumps up from the third line to complete the front line on the power play. Marchessault leads the team in goals with 11 which would seem to make him more of a one-off play here if anything. On defense both Aaron Ekblad and Keith Yandle are viable options as Ekblad’s 129 shots on goal leads the team while Yandle has registered half of his 18 points while on the power play. Look for Florida to score a few goals tonight and possibly take advantage of a tired Winnipeg team.
Elite Plays
WIN: Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine
FLA: None
Secondary Plays
WIN: Nikolaj Ehlers, Blake Wheeler, Dustin Byfuglien
FLA: Jaromir Jagr, Vincent Trocheck, Jonathan Marchessault, Keith Yandle, Aaron Ekblad
Montréal Canadiens at Dallas Stars
| Montréal Canadiens | Dallas Stars | ||||||||
 | Al Montoya |  | Antti Niemi | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 23-9-6 | 16-15-7 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 3.00 | 2.26 | 19.30% | 81.20% | Team Stats | 2.55 | 2.97 | 16.50% | 77.20% |
Montreal went into Nashville and came away with an emotional 2-1 overtime victory over the Predators. Both ex-Predators in Shea Weber and Alexander Radulov found the scoresheet in the tough fought battle. Tonight Montreal travels to Dallas to take on a Dallas team that is three points away from qualify for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference. Max Pacioretty, Phillip Danault and Brendan Gallagher will make up the team’s top line and could be considered as a tournament play tonight. Pacioretty has reclaimed his role as team leader by example as he has lit the lamp 16 times so far this season while assisting on 15 others goals. The injury to Alex Galchenyuk has hurt this team but they seem to be taking it in stride as they still have a comfortable eight point lead over second place Ottawa in the Atlantic Division. Alexander Radulov has helped ease the pain a bit as he has found the score sheet 28 times with eight of those points coming on the power play. Radulov makes for an easy one-off play here as his exposure to the Pacioretty helps him out more than his line mates in Paul Byron and Torrey Mitchell Weber is usually the play on the back line as he has ten goals and 22 assists so far this season while quarterbacking the top power play unit. Nathan Beaulieu may be worth a look as a punt play as he produced an assist last night while earning more power play time than the over rated Jeff Petry. Montreal is a tough team that always seems to find a way to win regardless of injuries.
Jamie Benn has been ruled out for this game which has Lindy Ruff needing to make a decision and for what it’s worth, I think he made the right one for tonight’s home game. Tyler Seguin will skate on the top line with Patrick Sharp and Jason Spezza on the team’s top line. This puts their most available skill players together not only at even strength but on the power play as well. Seguin leads the team in goals and assists and is the guy you want here as it should be pretty easy to fit him into your line up as both Sharp and Spezza can be had for a cheaper price across the industry. Jiri Hudler, Patrick Eaves and Cody Eakin make for an intriguing play here as they have the talent to produce but just haven’t been able to as a group up to this point. Eaves makes for a decent one-off here as he is fourth on the team with 22 points and will get the extra ice time on the team’s top power play unit that usually nets about 65% of the ice time when the Stars have the man advantage. John Klingberg is the choice on the back line as he anchors the top power play unit. Klingberg has seven of his 18 points while skating with the extra attacker. Dallas has been a team that has surely fallen below expectations but can start to turn things around here tonight with a big win against a good team.
Elite Plays
MTL: Max Pacioretty
DAL: Tyler Seguin
Secondary Plays
MTL: Alexander Radulov, Shea Weber
DAL: Patrick Sharp, Jason Spezza, Patrick Eaves, John Klingberg
New York Rangers at Philadelphia Flyers
| New York Rangers | Philadelphia Flyers | ||||||||
 | Antti Raanta |  | Steve Mason | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 26-13-1 | 20-14-5 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 3.35 | 2.50 | 22.90% | 83.90% | Team Stats | 2.87 | 2.97 | 21.70% | 80.90% |
The Rangers let one slip through their fingers last night as they may have been caught looking ahead to this divisional rivalry game with the Philadelphia Flyers. The Rangers hold on to a slim two point lead over the Washington Capitals for third place in the Metropolitan Division. The top line of Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider and Mats Zuccarello make for a decent GPP line to stack here as they are the ones doing most of the scoring of late. They have combined for a total of nine goals and 13 assists over the last five games all the while serving as the team’s top power play unit. J.T. Miller was taken off the second line in favor of Michael Grabner who will now skate alongside of Jimmy Vesey and Kevin Hayes. It’s obvious that the Flyers will try to shut down the top line so maybe sprinkling in a few of these guys may just do the trick. Grabner is second on the team in goals with 14 while Hayes has garnered 28 points in 40 games. Brandon Pirri remains on the top power play unit along with defenseman Ryan McDonagh but hasn’t done much of late with the extra opportunity. McDonagh on the other hand has grabbed three goals and has assisted on four others over the last five games. The Rangers need to get Rick Nash and Mika Zibanejad back to get more balance into their lineup.
The Flyers had a great run a while back when they won ten games in a row but have kind of fallen off the map since then as they have only won one time in their last seven games. They’ve only scored ten goals in those seven games and will need the top line to come alive tonight if they want to get this thing back on track. It looks like the Flyers will stick with Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek and Michael Raffl on the top line as Voracek leads the team in both points and assists while Giroux has managed 32 points in 39 games so far this season. Wayne Simmons and Brayden Schenn make for an excellent tournament pairing as they skate on the second line but get the call to skate with Giroux and Voracek when the team draws a penalty. Simmonds is the stronger play as he has a team leading 17 goals while Schenn has been solid of late as he has had a hand in four of the last six Flyers goals. On defense the choices are either Shayne Gostisbehere or Ivan Provorov with the slight edge going to Gostisbehere as he gets the extra time on the top power play unit and has tallied 11 of his 18 points with the man advantage. The Flyers need to break out and tonight would be a good night to do it.
Elite Plays
NYR: Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider
PHL: Jakub Voracek, Claude Giroux
Secondary Plays
NYR: Mats Zuccarello, Ryan McDonagh
PHL: Wayne Simmonds, Brayden Schenn, Shayne Gostisbehere
Colorado Avalanche at Calgary Flames
| Colorado Avalanche | Calgary Flames | ||||||||
 | Calvin Pickard |  | Brian Elliott | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 12-24-1 | 20-17-2 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.05 | 3.35 | 13.60% | 78.90% | Team Stats | 2.64 | 2.82 | 19.50% | 81.20% |
Colorado comes into this one as the worst team in the league with a 12-24-1 record. Their 76 goals is dead last in the league as they have only won one game in the last ten they have played. Nathan MacKinnon leads the team with 25 points from the top line but even this has been a disappointment for someone of his talent. I guess you can say you are only as good as the players around you so outside of Gabriel Landeskog, Matt Duchene and defenseman Tyson Barrie they may not have that many quality NHL players. Mikko Rantanen has looked good at times which is why he skates with Matt Duchene on the team’s second line while Landeskog skates on the top line with MacKinnon. There are 11 other teams on tonight’s slate so if you want to switch it up and hope these guys score a few tonight maybe Duchene and Rantanen are your best bets. Duchene has posted 24 points in the 33 games he has suited up for while Rantanen has collected three of his 17 points over the last five games. Tyson Barrie is maybe the only cash game consideration here as he has seven points over the last six games which puts him third on the team in points with 20. Yes, Rene Bourque skate with MacKinnon and Jarome Iginla skate with Duchene but I’d only use full line stacks here if you plan on using multiple GPP entries.
If the playoffs were to start today the Calgary Flames would be tied for the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference. They have won ten of their last 14 games which could be a pretty good indication of how this game will go tonight against the worst team in the league. The line of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Alex Chiasson is the one to target here as there is no doubt they will be able to expose whatever line they will match up with. Gaudreau has missed a few games during the season but has got it in gear and now has 25 points in the 29 games he has played in. Monahan needed a jumpstart which is why he has been placed on the top line with Gaudreau so only time will tell if this works or not. The Flames have tried to make three decent scoring lines and for the most part it has worked as Mikael Backlund has registered a team high eight points in the last five games while skating on the second line with Matthew Tkachuk. Michael Frolik is a bit streaky as he skates on the third line but for all intents and purposes has been doing the job as he has 21 points in the first 39 games. Dougie Hamilton leads the defense in scoring with six goals and 16 assists but that doesn’t mean that T.J. Brodie and Mark Giordano aren’t worth a look here. Colorado will give up some goals which means that everyone may get into the act tonight.
Elite Plays
COL: None
CGY: Johnny Gaudreau
Secondary Plays
COL: Matt Duchene, Tyson Barrie, Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen
CGY: Sean Monahan, Dougie Hamilton, Mikael Backlund, Matthew Tkachuk, T.J. Brodie
Arizona Coyotes at Vancouver Canucks
| Arizona Coyotes | Vancouver Canucks | ||||||||
 | Mike Smith |  | Ryan Miller | ||||||
| Record | Record | ||||||||
| 11-21-5 | 18-18-3 | ||||||||
| Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% | Stats | GF/GP | GA/GP | PP% | PK% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Stats | 2.14 | 3.24 | 14.30% | 74.60% | Team Stats | 2.38 | 2.95 | 14.20% | 80.00% |
Arizona is another bad team that is just two points better than the aforementioned Colorado Avalanche. They have lost their last seven games look to make it eight as they visit the Vancouver Canucks tonight. When your second line has a combined total of 28 points on the season, you know you’re in trouble. Christian Dvorak leads that group with just 12 points while Jamie McGinn and Anthony Duclair have nine and seven points respectively. The top line is the one to consider for deeper tournament plays here as Radim Vrbata leads the team with nine goals and 15 assists so far this season. Tobias Rieder and Martin Hanzal fill out the top line that also pulls double duty when the Coyotes draw a penalty. Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson is worth a look here as he anchors the team’s top power play unit as ten of his 19 points have come with the man advantage. The injury to Max Domi has no doubt hurt this team but they certainly lack the depth to make a competitive NHL squad. With only six games on the slate tonight and Colorado being in play as well, it may be tough to stay away from either team in GPP play. Cash games you may as well just forget it.
The Canucks have reeled of four straight wins which matches the four they won at the start of the season as their best winning streak so far this season. They should be able to make if five in a row tonight as they host an inept Arizona Coyote team that is just 5-11-3 away from the home crowd. In case you haven’t noticed there has been a youth movement going on in British Columbia as the team leaders are not the Sedin brothers but a much younger class of players. While the top line of Henrik Sedin, Jayson Megna and Daniel Sedin remain as the team’s top line the line that features Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi have definitely been making some heads turn. Horvat leads the team in goals with 11 and is tied for the team lead in points with Henrik Sedin at 26. Meanwhile, Baertschi has done enough on the ice to earn him a spot on the top power play unit with the Sedin’s, Brandon Sutter and defenseman Troy Stecher. Baertschi has scored three goals and has assisted on two others in the last six games which just tells me that he is responding to the added work he’s been given. Sutter is joined by Loui Eriksson on the team’s third line and could be used as a deeper tournament duo. Arizona has given up 25 goals in their last seven games so don’t be surprised if they give up a few on the road tonight.
Elite Plays
ARZ: None
VAN: Daniel Sedin, Bo Horvat
Secondary Plays
ARZ: Radim Vrbata, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Martin Hanzal
VAN: Sven Baertschi, Henrik Sedin, Troy Stecher