Daily Fantasy Hockey: Power-Play Report (01/17/20)
When building a Daily Fantasy Hockey lineup, it’s important to consider the special teams matchups. When a team or line goes off offensively, more often than not it’s because of the power-play. Below I’ve gone over the special teams matchups for tonight’s three-game slate to help you identify the best power-plays to target. All totals are per 60 minutes of 5v4 ice-time. Each team’s league-wide rank in a given category is noted in brackets. Good luck!
Anaheim Ducks @ Carolina Hurricanes [7:30 PM EST]
| Ducks PP | Hurricanes PK | |
| PP%/PK% | 15.2% (28th) | 82.6% (9th) |
| PP/PK per Gm | 2.66 (30th) | 3.55 (30th) |
| SH%/SV% | 10.73% (27th) | .863 SV% (19th) |
| Shots For/Against | 46.02 (30th) | 44.96 (3rd) |
| Scoring Chances For/Against | 46.80 (17th) | 44.96 (8th) |
| xGoals For/Against | 5.46 (26th) | 6.27 (15th) |
| Hurricanes PP | Ducks PK | |
| PP%/PK% | 21.9% (t-8th) | 77.5% (24th) |
| PP/PK per Gm | 3.11 (t-13th) | 3.02 (t-15th) |
| SH%/SV% | 14.35% (11th) | .838 SV% (26th) |
| Shots For/Against | 59.26 (3rd) | 49.70 (7th) |
| Scoring Chances For/Against | 56.17 (5th) | 43.17 (5th) |
| xGoals For/Against | 7.96 (1st) | 6.04 (8th) |
Analysis:
The Ducks putrid power-play draws a brutal matchup tonight against the Hurricanes. Anaheim’s abysmal 15.2 PP% is the result of an inability to consistently create shots and scoring chances. Simply put, they struggle to generate offensive opportunities with the man advantage, and there’s no reason to expect anything different tonight. Carolina’s top-10 PK ranking is well-deserved, judging by their shots and scoring chances against. They surrender very little shots even to the most dynamic power-plays, so they should make quick work of the Ducks tonight. Stay away from an Anaheim power-play stack.
On the flip side of things, a Hurricanes PP stack is definitely a viable play tonight. The Canes ability to create quality shots and scoring chances has carried over to the power-play this season, and their league-best 7.96 xGF/60 on the power-play is reflective of that. Anaheim has actually done an admirable job of suppressing chances on the penalty-kill, but have been let down by their goaltending. Don’t be surprised if that trend continues tonight with @Ryan Miller expected to get the call in goal.
Pittsburgh Penguins @ Detroit Red Wings [7:30 PM EST]
| Penguins PP | Red Wings PK | |
| PP%/PK% | 19.4% (17th) | 73.2% (30th) |
| PP/PK per Gm | 2.85 (25th) | 3.02 (t-15th) |
| SH%/SV% | 13.90% (14th) | .839 SV% (25th) |
| Shots For/Against | 50.42 (21st) | 61.53 (30th) |
| Scoring Chances For/Against | 52.03 (10th) | 54.49 (29th) |
| xGoals For/Against | 7.12 (7th) | 8.04 (31st) |
| Red Wings PP | Penguins PK | |
| PP%/PK% | 15.0% (29th) | 81.6% (t-12th) |
| PP/PK per Gm | 3.13 (t-11th) | 2.66 (3rd) |
| SH%/SV% | 12.29% (21st) | .870 SV% (15th) |
| Shots For/Against | 42.53 (31st) | 52.50 (14th) |
| Scoring Chances For/Against | 40.40 (27th) | 42.51 (4th) |
| xGoals For/Against | 5.42 (27th) | 6.18 (11th) |
Analysis:
The Penguins were able to maintain above-average numbers on the power-play despite the myriad of injuries they’ve suffered. With @Sidney Crosby back in the lineup, don’t be surprised if their peripheral numbers start to climb in the coming weeks. You’ll want to give yourself plenty of exposure to Pittsburgh’s power-play tonight as they draw an ideal matchup against the Red Wings. The Red Wings surrender the second-most shots in the league on the penalty-kill, raising the floor of a Penguins PP stack. Don’t overthink this one, Detroit’s dead-last ranking in xGA/60 on the PK speaks for itself.
It should go without saying, but there are better options on tonight’s slate than a Detroit PP stack. They rank dead-last in the NHL in shots per 60 on the man advantage, and the Penguins excel on the penalty-kill. Add in the fact that Pittsburgh is one of the more disciplined teams in the league, and it’s hard to see any reason to stack Detroit’s power-play tonight.
Tampa Bay Lightning @ Winnipeg Jets [8:00 PM EST]
| Lightning PP | Jets PK | |
| PP%/PK% | 27.7% (2nd) | 74.2% (29th) |
| PP/PK per Gm | 3.15 (10th) | 2.55 (1st) |
| SH%/SV% | 17.37% (3rd) | .839 SV% (24th) |
| Shots For/Against | 60.22 (2nd) | 60.90 (29th) |
| Scoring Chances For/Against | 56.90 (4th) | 52.64 (26th) |
| xGoals For/Against | 6.82 (11th) | 7.30 (29th) |
| Jets PP | Lightning PK | |
| PP%/PK% | 21.2% (10th) | 82.9% (8th) |
| PP/PK per Gm | 2.91 (23rd) | 3.23 (24th) |
| SH%/SV% | 13.18% (18th) | .882 SV% (9th) |
| Shots For/Against | 56.31 (6th) | 52.74 (15th) |
| Scoring Chances For/Against | 48.12 (15th) | 50.89 (21st) |
| xGoals For/Against | 6.57 (15th) | 6.32 (t-16th) |
Analysis:
The one thing Winnipeg has going for them in this matchup is their ability to stay out of the box. By the numbers, the Jets are the most disciplined team in the NHL, averaging just 2.55 times short-handed per game. That’s probably for the best, because when they do fall a man short, Winnipeg struggles mightily. They’re a bottom-five NHL team in terms of shots and scoring chances against on the PK, and they haven’t received the best goaltending, either. Even with the limited opportunities, it’s hard to imagine Tampa Bay’s power-play not breaking through at least once in this matchup. Their hefty price tags are worth paying for tonight.