NHL Scratches & Line Changes

Alexander Semin(RW)|
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Semin is expected to be a healthy scratch on Saturday.

Semin skated as an extra in practice on Friday and with a couple healthy bodies coming back on Saturday, head coach Bill Peters is likely scratching Semin. The winger has just two assists in eight games and is a minus-5 over the last four games. He belongs on your bench until he turns things around.

Source:
@NHLCanes 2014-10-31T12:36:04.000Z
Alexander Semin
Dany Heatley(LW)|
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Line Change
Heatley bumped to the second line on Thursday.

Heatley made his Ducks debut on Tuesday and played just 13:26 with one shot on goal. In practice this morning he skated with Ryan Kesler and Devante-Smith Pelly while Matt Beleskey skated with Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. It still is not a bad line, but his production would likely be higher on the top-line.

Source:
Lance Pugmire 2014-10-30T12:50:30.000Z
Dany Heatley
Matt Beleskey(LW)|FA
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Beleskey has been bumped up to the Ducks top-line.

After just one game the Ducks have already moved Dany Heatley off of the top-line and replaced him with Beleskey. The big winger has five goals in the first 10 games of the season. He is averaging 2.7 shots per game and firing at 18.5% right now.

Source:
Lance Pugmire 2014-10-30T12:48:38.000Z
Matt Beleskey
Ales Hemsky(RW)|
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Line Change
Hemsky has been moved to the Stars' top power-play unit.

Hemsky jones Tyler Seguin, Jason Spezza, Jamie Benn and Trevor Daley on the Stars top PP unit for Friday's game vs. the Ducks. Hemsky is off to a painfully slow start to the season, having recorded just one assist with a minus-6 rating in the first nine games. The Stars are hoping the move to the top unit might spark some offence for the veteran winger.

Source:
Mark Stepneski 2014-10-30T12:17:41.000Z
Ales Hemsky
Jeff Skinner(C)|SJS
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Line Change
Skinner is skating on the Hurricanes top-line this morning.

Skinner was moved up to the top-line with Eric Staal and Alex Semin in Hurricanes practice this morning. The Canes don't play until Saturday, so we will see if this stays this way before their meeting with the Coyotes. They are still searching for their first win of the year, so no changes will hurt right now.

Source:
Chip Alexander 2014-10-30T12:14:40.000Z
Jeff Skinner
Tom Wilson(RW)|WAS
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Line Change
Wilson will make his season debut tonight.

Wilson was originally listed as a game-time decision, but he will be in the lineup with Eric Fehr coming out of the lineup. He will start on the fourth line, but there was some chatter in the preseason that the Capitals were thinking about having him playing on the top line with Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Ovechkin, so he might be someone to keep an eye on.

Source:
@washcaps 2014-10-29T19:15:48.000Z
Tom Wilson
Calle Jarnkrok(C)|TOR
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Jarnkrok will be a healthy scratch on Wednesday.

Jarnkrok has yet to record a point while piling up 11 shots and two PIMs in eight games this season. He will take a seat tonight with Gabriel Bourque and Matt Cullen entering the lineup. He has not been all that bad for the Predaotrs this season, but they want more offence from the 23-year-old.

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Kristopher Martel 2014-10-29T14:35:11.000Z
Calle Jarnkrok
Matt Cullen(C)|INA
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Cullen will skate on the Predators second line on Wednesday.

Cullen will make his season debut tonight in Edmonton and he will start the game on the second line with Derek Roy and Craig Smith. Cullen had 10 goals and 29 assists (39 points) in 77 games a season ago. With Cullen in, Calle Jarnkrok will serve as a healthy scratch.

Source:
Kristopher Martel 2014-10-29T14:33:30.000Z
Matt Cullen
Brandon Saad(LW)|VGK
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Saad practicing on the Blackhawks fourth line on Wednesday.

Saad, who has just one goal in the first nine games of the season, played just 15:08 on Tuesday and is skating on Chicago's fourth line with Marcus Kruger and Ben Smith this morning. It has been a rough start for the 22-year-old, who's value certainly takes a hit when he is not playing none of the Blackhawks premier players (Toews, Kane, Sharp, Hossa and Richards).

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Tracey Myers 2014-10-29T13:05:29.000Z
Brandon Saad
Sam Reinhart(C)|FLA
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Reinhart will play in his ninth game on Thursday.

After Thursday's game vs. the Bruins, the Sabres will need to make the decision on whether or not to keep Reinhart with the team and burn the first year of his entry level contract or send him back to juniors. For Reinhart's development sake it is probably best for him to go back to juniors and with the Sabres playing as poorly as they are, that seems like a no brainer.

Source:
@BuffaloSabres 2014-10-29T13:02:41.000Z
Sam Reinhart
Reilly Smith(RW)|VGK
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Smith has been moved to the Bruins fourth line on Wednesday.

After a breakout season (20G / 31A) in 2013-14, Smith has just two goals and two assists through 11 games this season, despite playing slightly more and his shooting percentage (13.3%) remaining in-line with last season. The 23-year-old is a good scorer, but he will have to work his way back into the top-6 to be a consistent fantasy contributor.

Source:
Matt Kalman 2014-10-29T12:31:34.000Z
Reilly Smith
Mike Green(RD)|INA
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Line Change
Green moves to the top power-play unit on Wednesday.

In the first seven games of Green's season, he was averaging just 1:19 of power-play time per game, while John Carlson was seeing three minutes. At Capitals practice this morning, Green and Carlson swapped spots, which should have Green seeing the three minutes of PP time tonight vs. the Red Wings. Despite limited power-play time, Green has found a way to score three goals with five assists in seven games (one PPP).

Source:
Alex Prewitt 2014-10-29T10:42:59.000Z
Mike Green
Jonathan Drouin(LW)|NYI
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Lightning trying to ease Jonathan Drouin into the NHL.

Drouin owners got a preview of him on the first line with Steven Stamkos last week, but according to head coach Jon Cooper the plan all along was to ease him into the NHL, which is why he is currently on the third line. He played in the top-6 last week because of injuries up-and-down the lineup, but with healthy forwards returning, he will have to work his way back up.

Source:
Joe Smith 2014-10-29T10:23:33.000Z
Jonathan Drouin
Kevin Hayes(RW)|PIT
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Hayes looks like a healthy scratch on Monday.

Hayes was one of the last players on the ice at the Rangers morning skate which suggests he will serve as a healthy scratch tonight vs. Minnesota. He was also bumped off of the power-play, which is another sign that he will not play. Ryan Malone is expected to take his spot in the lineup, with Martin St. Louis moving to his spot as the first line centre. Hayes has one goal and one assist in six games.

Source:
Pat Leonard 2014-10-27T11:38:07.000Z
Kevin Hayes
Martin St. Louis(RW)|FA
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St. Louis could move back to centre on Monday.

With Derek Stepan still sidelined with a fractured fibula, the Rangers have been searching for someone to centre their top-line all season. St. Louis started the season there but has spent that last week back on the wing. Tonight, it looks like Kevin Hayes (who was centring the top-line) will be a healthy scratch with Ryan Malone entering the lineup. This would mean that St. Louis would move back to the middle, likely between Rick Nash and Chris Kreider. However, head coach Alain Vigneault said the lineup has not been finalized. We will likely have to wait until pre-game warmups to determine the lines and scratches.

Source:
Pat Leonard 2014-10-27T11:36:03.000Z
Martin St. Louis
Nikolay Kulemin(LW)|
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Kulemin back on the Islanders second line Saturday.

A day after skating on the Islanders top-line, Kulemin was back on the second line this morning; with Cory Conacher moving back to the first line with John Tavares. Kulemin will start the game on the second line, but will move up in Conacher struggles.

Source:
Arthur Staple 2014-10-25T11:04:24.000Z
Nikolay Kulemin
Cory Conacher(LW)|FA
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Line Change
Conacher will start the game on the Islanders first line.

Nikolay Kulemin skated on the top-line in practice on Friday, but the Islanders are going to give Conacher another chance to play with John Tavares and Kyle Okposo. However, Kulemin will be moved to that line if Conacher is not playing well.

Source:
Arthur Staple 2014-10-25T11:01:57.000Z
Cory Conacher
Jyrki Jokipakka(D)|
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Jyrki Jokipakka will make his NHL debut on Friday vs. New Jersey.

Jokipakka, a seventh-round pick (195th overall) in 2011, played three seasons in Finland’s top league and made his North American debut last season with the Texas Stars. He was a key piece for that Texas team that won the 2014 Calder Cup. Jokipakka was paired with Jamie Oleksiak during Friday morning’s skate, meaning that Kevin Connauton is the expected healthy scratch on the blue line.

Source:
Mark Stepneski 2014-10-24T14:53:29.000Z
Jyrki Jokipakka

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.