NHL Scratches & Line Changes

Matt Benning(D)|TOR
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Benning will be a healthy scratch for Friday's game in Carolina.

Benning will sit for the first time this season after averaging 18:44 of ice-time in his first seven games of the season for the winless Sharks. He has just one assist and eight shots on goal in those seven games. Benning will be replaced in Friday's lineup by 36-year-old veteran Marc-Édouard Vlasic.

Source:
Sheng Peng 2023-10-27T22:55:53.274Z
Matt Benning
Brendan Lemieux(LW)|CAR
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Brendan Lemieux will be a healthy scratch Friday vs. San Jose

With the much-awaited return of Andrei Svechnikov (knee), Brendan Lemieux will be the odd man out of the Hurricanes' lineup Friday vs. San Jose. The 27-year-old scrappy left-winger signed a one-year, $800,000 contract in the offseason with Carolina and has one goal, four SOG, 31 PIMs, and a -2 plus/minus in seven games played so far in 2023-24.

Source:
Cory Lavalette 2023-10-27T21:28:57.772Z
Brendan Lemieux
Jujhar Khaira(LW)|FA
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Jujhar Khaira will be a healthy scratch on Friday vs. Washington.

Khaira made his Wild debut Thursday and had one SOG across 10 shifts and 8:05 TOI but will be the odd man out of Minnesota's lineup as they take on Washington Friday. With the Wild opting for an 11F/7D lineup Friday, he will be replaced by Daemon Hunt, who is making his NHL debut.

Source:
Michael Russo 2023-10-27T21:07:21.070Z
Jujhar Khaira
Daemon Hunt(D)|CBJ
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Daemon Hunt is expected to make his NHL debut Friday vs. Washington.

Hunt was the Wild's 2020 third-round pick (65th overall) and will make his NHL debut Friday vs. Washington as he takes the spot of Jujhar Khaira in Minnesota's lineup The 21-year-old defensemen had yet to pick up a point with Iowa (AHL) prior to his NHL promotion but had seven PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through four games.

Source:
Michael Russo 2023-10-27T21:08:30.024Z
Daemon Hunt
Andreas Athanasiou(C)|FA
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Andreas Athanasiou will be a healthy scratch on Friday vs. Vegas.

Athanasiou has struggled so far in 2023-24, with no goals, three assists, 14 SOG, and a -2 plus//minus through seven games, and will be a healthy scratch for the first time this year. MacKenzie Entwistle will replace him in the Blackhawks' lineup as the nine-year veteran takes a seat in the press box.

Source:
Phillip Thompson 2023-10-27T19:59:42.710Z
Andreas Athanasiou
MacKenzie Entwistle(RW)|FLA
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MacKenzie Entwistle will draw back into the Blackhawks' lineup Friday vs. Vegas.

Entwistle was a healthy scratch for the Blackhawks' previous two games but will draw back into the lineup Friday vs Vegas as he replaces Andreas Athanasiou. The 24-year-old right-winger has a goal, two SOG, four PIMs, and a +1 plus/minus in two games this season while being healthy scratched for five others.

Source:
Phillip Thompson 2023-10-27T19:54:47.196Z
MacKenzie Entwistle
Ryan Carpenter(C)|FA
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Ryan Carpenter will make his season debut Friday vs. Carolina.

Carpenter has been recalled from the Barracuda (AHL) in relation to Alexander Barabanov being placed on the injured reserve with an upper-body injury. Carpenter has 72 points (27G / 45A) in 330 career NHL games and will make his Sharks season debut at some point during Barabanov's absence. He is expected to line up on the third line with Nico Sturm and Mike Hoffman.

Source:
Sheng Peng 2023-10-27T17:37:24.079Z
Ryan Carpenter
Leo Carlsson(C)|ANA
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Carlsson is back in the lineup for Thursday's game in Boston.

Carlsson returns to the Ducks lineup on Thursday after sitting out the last two games as the team attempts to ease his workload early in the season. The has a goal, six SOG, two PIMs, and a +2 plus/minus in two games thus far in 2023-24 while playing over 20 minutes a night.

Source:
@AnaheimDucks 2023-10-26T22:49:10.244Z
Leo Carlsson
Scott Perunovich(D)|UTA
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Scott Perunovich will draw into the Blues' lineup for the first time this season on Thursday vs. Calgary.

St. Louis has decided to go with the unconventional 11 forwards, seven defensemen approach which had led to Scott Perunovich getting his first appearance of the season in the Blues' lineup. The 25-year-old last appeared in the NHL as a rookie in 2021-22 and had six assists, 14 SOG, eight PIMs and a +2 plus/minus in 19 games. He takes the place of Tyler Tucker in the Blues' lineup Thursday.

Source:
Matthew DeFranks 2023-10-26T18:27:38.491Z
Scott Perunovich
Robert Bortuzzo(D)|FA
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Robert Bortuzzo will make his Blues season debut Thursday vs. Calgary.

Bortuzzo has yet to appear in any of the Blues' first five games but will draw into the lineup for the first time in 2023-24 Thursday as they take on Calgary. The 34-year-old had two goals, three assists, 30 SOG, 29 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus in 43 games played in 2022-23.

Source:
Matthew DeFranks 2023-10-26T18:30:51.578Z
Robert Bortuzzo
Jakub Vrana(LW)|FA
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Jakub Vrana will be a healthy scratch Thursday vs. Calgary.

Vrana has had a decent start to the season, registering three points (1G / 2A) while averaging 12:13 time-on-ice through five games but will be a healthy scratch for the Blues on Thursday. The Blues are opting to dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen on Thursday as they welcome Scott Perunovich into the lineup.

Source:
Matthew DeFranks 2023-10-26T18:30:47.073Z
Jakub Vrana
Ilya Solovyov(D)|CAL
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Ilya Solovyov is expected to make his NHL debut Thursday vs. St. Louis.

Solovyov had a goal, an assist, and two PIMs in four games played with the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) and has earned himself his first career call up to the Calgary Flames Thursday and will make his NHL debut vs. St.Louis. The 23-year-old defensemen was the Flames seventh round pick in 2020 (#205th overall) and has yet to appear in the NHL despite two successful full AHL seasons in the last two years. He will replace Jordan Oesterle in the Flames lineup Thursday.

Source:
Pat Steinberg 2023-10-26T17:08:12.653Z
Ilya Solovyov
Jordan Oesterle(D)|NSH
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Jordan Oesterle is expected to be a healthy scratch Thursday vs. St. Louis.

Oesterle, who has zero points and a -2 plus/minus rating through three games this season, is expected to be a healthy scratch on Thursday. The Michigan-born defenseman, in his first season with the Flames, will be replaced by Ilya Solovyov, who is making his NHL debut.

Source:
Pat Steinberg 2023-10-26T17:30:56.164Z
Jordan Oesterle
Louie Belpedio(RD)|WAS
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Louis Belpedio is expected to make his Flyers' debut on Thursday vs. Minnesota.

Belpedio has two points (0G / 2A) in four career NHL games but has not played at the NHL level since the 2020-21 season with the Minnesota Wild. He is expected to make his Flyers' debut on Thursday, likely suiting up alongside Nick Seeler on their third defensive pair.

Source:
Kevin Kurz 2023-10-26T14:47:37.462Z
Louie Belpedio
Dmitri Voronkov(LW)|CBJ
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Dmitri Voronkov is expected to make his NHL debut on Thursday vs. Montreal.

Voronkov had an assist, two PIMs, and a -1 plus/minus in four games with Cleveland (AHL) and has been recalled to Columbus amidst the news of Patrik Laine's injury. The 23-year-old forward was the Blue Jackets' 2019 fourth-round pick (114th overall) and is expected to make his NHL debut Thursday vs. Montreal.

Source:
Jeff Svoboda 2023-10-25T16:31:17.217Z
Dmitri Voronkov
Ty Dellandrea(C)|SJS
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Ty Dellandrea will draw back into the Stars' lineup on Tuesday vs. Pittsburgh

Dellandrea will return to the lineup for the Stars as the rotation between him and Sam Steel, who will be a healthy scratch, continues on Tuesday. Dellandrea has one point (0G / 1A) while averaging 12:29 time-on-ice for the Stars this season.

Source:
Saad Yousuf 2023-10-24T18:13:00.019Z
Ty Dellandrea
Sam Steel(C)|DAL
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Sam Steel will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday vs. Pittsburgh.

The 13th forward rotation continues on Tuesday as Sam Steel with be a healthy scratch in favour of Ty Dellandrea. Steel has one point (0G / 1A) and three shots while averaging 11:57 time-on-ice in three games for the Stars this season.

Source:
Saad Yousuf 2023-10-24T18:11:47.691Z
Sam Steel

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.