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NHL Scratches & Line Changes

Mattias Tedenby(LW)|INA
Line Change
Line Change
Zubrus and Tedenby switch places on top two lines in Devils’ practice: The Devils are back at practice this morn... http://bit.ly/10NRBlE

Tedenby replaces Zubrus on the top line and is now playing with Kovalchuk. This doesn't make him a must add by any stretch but he could be worth a spot start if you are shallow on LW.

Source:
Tom Gulitti 2018-07-18T17:53:26.132Z
Marian Gaborik(RW)|FA
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Line Change
#NYR Gaborik practicing on line with Richards and Nash.

The Rangers are off to a disappointing 0-2 start and it looks like John Tortorella isn't going to wait any longer to put his three big guns together. On paper this looks like the best line in the NHL, and they really should have no problem scoring with all that talent.

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Katie Strang 2013-01-22T12:25:37.000Z
Marian Gaborik
Jamie Benn(LW)|DAL
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Line Change
Stars still working to get Jamie Benn signed, but it looks like there's a good chance he will miss opener Saturday.

Bad news for owners who drafted Benn expecting him to be on the ice improving on his numbers from last season. (71GP-26G-37A-63PTS). Monitor this situation closely because you'll want to get Benn out of your lineup if he isn't playing. However he is a must-start once he signs.

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Mike Heika 2013-01-18T14:02:03.000Z
Jamie Benn
Cory Conacher(LW)|FA
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Line Change
Guy Boucher confirms Cory Conacher has made the roster.

Conacher had 80 points in 75 games in the AHL last year and 28 in 36 during the lockout, is expected to play alongside Vincent Lecavalier and Teddy Purcell on the Lightning's 2nd line. If he gets off to a hot start and sticks with the this line he could be a good fantasy pickup. Keep an eye on him.

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Erik Erlendsson 2013-01-17T13:37:16.000Z
Cory Conacher
Zach Boychuk(C)|
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Line Change
Zach Boychuk looks like he's going to get a chance to play on the first line.

If Boychuk start the season with Eric Staal and Alexander Semin he could be in for a hot start. He had 16 goals and 16 assists in 37 games in the AHL during the lockout. Keep an eye on the former 1st round pick, you might like what you see.

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Michael Smith 2013-01-17T13:29:01.000Z
Zach Boychuk
Nazem Kadri(C)|COL
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Line Change
Nazem Kadri looks like he's going to get his shot.

The Maple Leafs trade Lombardi yesterday and are going to Waive Connolly today. This leaves the door open for Kadri to make the team and step in and make a difference. Kadri is a talented player so monitor him as the season moves along, if he can score... He's worth a fantasy look.

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Terry Koshan 2013-01-17T11:30:56.000Z
Nazem Kadri
Jannik Hansen(RW)|
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Line Change
Jannik Hansen playing with the Sedin twins up front on Canucks first PP unit.

Anyone that plays with the Sedin's is a threat to put up points. Burrows is expected to play on their line but if Hansen sticks with them on the PP, that certainly gives his fantasy value a slight boost.

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Elliott Pap 2013-01-16T13:27:55.000Z
Jannik Hansen
Eric Tangradi(LW)|
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Line Change
Bylsma says both Tangradi and Bennett are likely to get time with Malkin and Neal during the scrimmage Wednesday.

Tangradi played with Malkin and Neal on Monday, while Bennett played with them today. Keep an eye on this line, whoever plays with Malkin and Neal receives a boost in fantasy value.

Source:
Dave Molinari 2013-01-15T14:37:30.000Z
Eric Tangradi
Jakob Silfverberg(LW)|FA
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Line Change
Silfverberg being given a 3rd straight day with Spezza-Michalek.

Silfverberg had 29 points in 34 games and a +2 with the Binghamton Senators during the lockout. It looks as if he'll start the season with Spezza and Michalek which increases his fantasy value and could end up being a good producer of goals and assists.

Source:
Don Brennan 2013-01-15T12:46:33.000Z
Jakob Silfverberg

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.