Lemieux will draw back into the Hurricanes' lineup on Tuesday.
NHL Hockey Player News
Mark Friedman will be a healthy scratch Tuesday vs. Anaheim.
Friedman played the last four games four the Canucks but will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Cole McWard to make his season debut. Friedman most recently played alongside Tyler Myers on the team's second defensive pair and has one point (0G / 1A) in 17 games this season.
Line Change
Cole McWard will make his season debut Tuesday vs. Anaheim.
McWard played 15 games with the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL this season, scoring four points (1G / 3A) and will make his Vancouver debut on Tuesday. He is expected to replace Mark Friedman, who will be a healthy scratch.
Line Change
Ty Dellandrea will be a healthy scratch Tuesday vs. Winnipeg.
Dellandrea has been struggling in 2023-24 with only an assist, 11 SOG, two PIMs and a -4 plus/minus in 12 games and will be a healthy scratch Tuesday vs. Winnipeg. The four-year veteran will be replaced by Craig Smith on the Stars' fourth line.
Line Change
Craig Smith will draw back into the Stars' lineup Tuesday vs. Winnipeg.
Smith was a healthy scratch for the Stars' previous two games but will draw back into the lineup Tuesday as he takes Ty Dellandrea's spot on Dallas' fourth line. The 34-year-old veteran is in his 13th NHL season and has two goals, an assist, 15 PIMs and 28 SOG in 17 games played this year.
Line Change
Andrew Poturalski will make his Seattle debut Tuesday in Chicago.
Poturalski has four NHL games to his name since the 2016-17 season, scoring two points (2G / 0A), but the 29-year-old is a known AHL commodity who will make his Kraken debut on Tuesday. In his past two seasons with the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL, Poturalski has 49 points (13G / 36A) in 49 games.
Line Change
Tyler Tucker will be a healthy scratch Tuesday vs. Minnesota.
Tucker suited up for the first time in nine games in St.Louis' previous contest but will head back to the press box as he is a healthy scratch Tuesday vs. Minnesota. The 23-year-old had a goal, an assist, eight PIMs and six SOG in nine games played this season will be replaced by Scott Perunovich Tuesday.
Ryan Reaves is expected to draw back into Toronto's lineup Tuesday vs. Florida.
Reaves was a healthy scratch on Saturday after scoring his first goal of the season the night before but is expected to return to the Maple Leafs lineup on Tuesday against the Florida Panthers. He is expected to play on the fourth line with David Kampf and Noah Gregor. Reaves' greatest attribute has always been his high-volume hitting, but this season, he is averaging only 2.00 hits per game, the lowest total of his career.
Bobby Brink will draw back into the Flyers' lineup Tuesday vs. Carolina.
Brink will likely be featured in the Flyers lineup more regularly going forward, as Noah Cates will miss six to eight weeks with a lower-body injury. Brink has been very productive when in the lineup, scoring 10 points (4G / 6A) in 16 games this season. He is expected to play with Ryan Poehling and Joel Farabee.
Line Change
Kulich is listed as a scratch for Monday's game in New York.
Kulich is set to sit on Monday as the Sabres appear to be opting to dress seven defensemen against the Rangers. The 2022 first-round pick has played just one game this season, registering no points and one shot on goal.
Andrei Kuzmenko will draw back into the Canucks' lineup Tuesday vs. Anaheim.
Kuzmenko has been a surprise healthy scratch for the Canucks' previous two games but will draw back into the lineup Tuesday as they take on Anaheim. The 27-year-old sophomore was sent to the press box after putting up three goals, 11 assists, 28 SOG, and a +1 plus/minus in 19 games to start the 2023-24 season.
Line Change
Nikita Okhotyuk will draw back into the Sharks' lineup Monday vs. Washington.
Okhotyuk was a healthy scratch on Saturday, allowing Marc-Edouard Vlasic to re-enter the lineup. However, the two will swap places again, as Okhotyuk will draw back in on Monday in favour of Vlasic. The 22-year-old Okhotyuk has four points (0G / 4A), 14 penalty minutes, 24 blocks, and 17 hits in 11 games this season.
Marc-Edouard Vlasic will be a healthy scratch Monday vs. Washington.
The veteran defenceman played in the Sharks most recent game on Saturday, his first game since November 14th, but will return to being a healthy scratch on Monday when they take on the Washington Capitals. Nikita Okhotyuk will draw back into the Sharks lineup on their third defensive pair.
Nicolas Aube-Kubel is expected to be a healthy scratch Monday vs. San Jose.
Aube-Kubel is expected to be a healthy scratch on Monday, allowing Anthony Mantha to remain in the lineup. Aube-Kubel played six games straight, scoring three points (1G / 2A) and 13 hits while averaging nearly 13 minutes time-on-ice.
Scott Perunovich will draw back into the Blues' lineup Tuesday vs. Minnesota.
Perunovich was a healthy scratch yesterday but played in eight straight games before that, scoring two points (0G / 2A) in his last three. He is expected to skate alongside Marco Scandella on the Blues' third defensive pair.
Line Change
Kevin Shattenkirk will draw back into the Bruins' lineup Monday vs. Columbus.
Shattenkirk has only played three of the last six games for the Bruins but will re-enter the lineup on Monday as Ian Mitchell will be a healthy scratch. In 15 games this season, Shattenkirk has three points (0G / 3A), 19 blocks, and 10 hits, averaging 16:46 time-on-ice.
Line Change
Ian Mitchell will be a healthy scratch Monday vs. Columbus.
Mitchell will be a healthy scratch on Monday, allowing Kevin Shattenkirk, who has not played since November 22nd, to draw back into the lineup. Mitchell has played 10 games with the Bruins this season, tallying two points (0G / 2A), 10 shots, and 10 blocks while averaging 15:02 time-on-ice.
Line Change
Dmitry Kulikov will draw back into the Panthers' lineup Monday vs. Ottawa.
Kulikov has six points (0G / 6A) in 19 games and was a healthy scratch in the last two games for the Panthers but will return to the lineup on Monday in favour of Uvis Balinskis. Kulikov and Balinskis will likely continue to rotate in and out of the lineup now that Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour have returned from injuries.
Line Change
Uvis Balinskis will be a healthy scratch Monday in Ottawa.
Balinskis has two points (1G / 1A) in 15 games this season and will be a healthy scratch on Monday, allowing Dmitry Kulikov to return to the Panthers' lineup. Balinskis has been a healthy scratch in four of the last five games for the Panthers, a trend that will likely continue now that Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour have returned from injuries.
Line Change
Henri Jokiharju will draw back into the Sabres' lineup Monday vs. the Rangers.
Jokiharju did not play on Saturday and has averaged only 12:34 time-on-ice over his last four games after averaging 17:11 in his first 14, which is also when he accumulated all seven points he has this season (2G / 5A). Jokiharju has predominantly skated alongside Owen Power this season on the Sabres' second defensive pairing.
NHL Line Changes
NHL line changes are essential in keeping a team’s players fresh on the ice over the course of a hard-fought 60-minute matchup. With shift changes occurring rapidly throughout any given game, we are here to provide you with everything you need to know regarding line changes.
Making sure a team is efficiently making line changes can be essential to their success within a matchup, as it ensures that the players needed on the ice to gain the upper hand are ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice. For NHL daily fantasy hockey players, knowing how to track line changes can be important as you look to keep tabs on the players you’ve drafted to your lineup and their production.
On The Fly
Unlike other sports where play must come to a stop in order to make a player substitution, in hockey, players can switch in-and-out of play on the fly. This helps in keeping the breakneck pace of the contest going, increasing the amount of action from whistle-to-whistle and avoiding any unnecessary stoppages.
On the fly changes are generally done when a team is in possession of the puck and are looking to make a transition play from their own end to their opponent’s side of the rink. Players must be aware of the action around them when making an on the fly substitution as a poorly timed switch could leave themselves vulnerable to an odd-man rush on the other end.
In order to make successful line changes on the fly it is up to the team coaching staff to keep players informed on when their line matchups are due to hit the ice. Generally, with both forwards and defensive pairings, line changes go from the first line trickling its way down to the fourth. Depending on the situation of the game, coaches may opt to give a particular line more playing time, increasing the amount of shifts they receive.
Play Stoppages
NHL line changes can also be made during stoppage of play, with both sides being given the chance to put fresh bodies on the ice ahead of the upcoming faceoff. Examples of a play stoppage that would allow teams to make line changes are after minor or major penalties, offsides, icing, and puck out of play calls. These line changes are often much more calculated as each coach has time to survey the other team and decide what would be the most advantageous line combination that will provide them with a competitive advantage.
Bench Configuration
It may seem like a confusing and unorganized area of the game, but in hockey there is a fair amount of strategy put into the bench configuration within a matchup. With both benches positioned in the neutral zone, making sure that players can quickly hop the boards and get into the game is key to making successful line changes. Benches are generally set so that players entering into the game on the fly are in the best possible position on the ice to fulfill their role.
Generally, a bench in hockey will have the forwards positioned closest to the attacking zone, whereas the defenceman will be situated closest to their defensive zone. This separates the forward lines and defence pairings from on another on each end of the bench so that groups can easily stay together. From here the rested forwards ready to enter into the game will be placed in the centre of the bench, positioned near the coaches so they can easily receive instruction before hitting the ice. This is also advantageous as players coming off the ice for a line change will often enter from the opposite side they came onto the ice from, preventing any unnecessary traffic or confusion when making a change. While each team may have their own preferences on how to configure their bench, these are the most common ways they are run.
Line Change Rules
Understanding the rules of NHL line changes in hockey is an understated part of the game and when used correctly can swing the tide of a matchup in your favour. Without in-depth understanding of line changes in hockey, this can cause costly mistakes that can result in minor penalties, lengthy shifts, or mismatches off a faceoff.
Last Line Change
The last line change rule exists so that the home team is able to make an adjustment to whatever lineup the visiting team decides to roll out after a stoppage in play. This rule was designed to make NHL line changes efficient, as well as provide both sides with the chance to strategically place their players based on the lines sent out by their opponents.
For example, after the whistle, the home team’s coach can elect to make a line change to the personnel on the ice. After that, the visiting coach will send out any new players into the game off of a line change. Thanks to the last line change rule, the home team coach is now granted the opportunity to make one last line change before play resumes to counter whatever line changes were made by the opposing team.
For daily fantasy sports bettors this is where having ample knowledge of each NHL team can come in handy. You can envision how each team may look to gain a competitive advantage over their opponent during a possession, drafting players who are set up for success within a matchup.
Penalties & Infractions
While NHL line changes are meant to be an efficient and simple way to keep the game being played at a fast-pace with minimal interruptions, there is still room for serious error during these substitutions. It’s not uncommon to see teams assessed for a penalty due to a botched line change, resulting in a power play opportunity for the opposing team.
A common penalty called as a result of a poorly executed line change is “too many men on the ice”. This penalty results when the offending team has six or more skaters (including the goaltender) on the ice at any given time and comes in physical contact with the puck. While players entering in the game during a shift change are eligible to hop the boards and get in on the action once their teammate is within five feet of the bench, they must time this correctly or they could be hit with a premature substitution infraction. When a bench minor penalty such as too many men on the ice is assessed, it is up to the team’s head coach to decide who serves the penalty based on the players currently on the ice at the time of the penalty.
Another line change infraction to be aware of is in the case of an icing call. Icing is called when a team plays a puck from their own side of the red centre line across the red goal line in their opponents end. When icing is called, a faceoff will be taken from the end of the team that committed the infraction. During an icing call the team that was called for icing is not able to make any line changes, meaning they are forced to keep all players who were on the ice at the time of the infraction in the contest. Their opponents however are allowed to make any line change they desire, making this an incredibly beneficial call if they can strategize correctly.
How Line Changes Impact Fantasy Hockey
NHL line changes can come fast and suddenly so it can be challenging to keep track of certain players over the course of a matchup. This can make it difficult for avid fantasy hockey managers and sports bettors to know when the players they’ve wagered on are on the ice. Some broadcasts now incorporate various display mechanics that allow for you to see who is on the ice at any given time, making shift change tracking much simpler than ever before. Be sure to stay up-to-date on the jersey numbers of any players on your fantasy roster or that you bet on as a failsafe so that you can find them quickly while watching the action unfold.
Knowing how long a typical shift for a player entering into a matchup is can be an advantageous piece of knowledge for fantasy managers and bettors alike. The longer a player’s shift lasts, the higher their chances of registering a point or other statistical milestone which can help you in winning your fantasy matchups and/or bets placed on a game.