Daily Faceoff is a news site with no direct affiliation to the NHL, or NHLPA

NHL Scratches & Line Changes

Dave Bolland(C)|
Line Change
Line Change
Quenneville still "optimistic" that Dave Bolland plays tomorrow night. #Blackhawks

If Bolland does not dress, Brandon Pirri will stay on the third line with the team dressing seven defensemen. Last season he scored 15 goals and 37 points while centering the second and third line but missed 21 games due to various injuries. The Blackhawks hope he can stay in good health all season.

Source:
Tracey Myers 2011-10-07T14:37:40.000Z
Dave Bolland
David Rundblad(D)|
Line Change
Line Change
Appears as though Rundblad will be scratch.

Shouldn't come as a surprise as Rundblad's defensive play drew a plethora of criticism during the preseason. Last season he posted incredible stats -- 11 goals. 50 points over 55 games played. He figures to go through plenty of growing pains learning defense in his first North American season.

Source:
Ian Mendes 2011-10-07T11:39:24.000Z
David Rundblad
Patrick Eaves(RW)|FA
Line Change
Line Change
Brunnstrom and Eaves put for Detroit tonight.

Eaves figures to rotate into the bottom two lines as the season progresses. Last season the winger scored 13 goals and 20 points over 63 games of mostly fourth line duty. Coach Mike Babcock likes his offensive upside so, if healthy, expect a similar amount of goals.

Source:
Brent Wallace 2011-10-07T11:30:06.000Z
Patrick Eaves
Adam Larsson(D)|SEA
Line Change
Line Change
Greene-Larsson

Larsson will start the season on the top defensive pairing. Last season he only scored one goal and nine points over 37 games with Skelleftea HC of the SEL. Regardless, while manning the point on PP1, the former fourth overall pick will produce at least 20 points in his rookie season.

Source:
Rich Chere 2011-10-07T11:24:51.000Z
Adam Larsson
T.J. Oshie(RW)|FA
Line Change
Line Change
Working with Berglund and Stewart, two powerful forwards with considerable offensive ability of their own, should give Oshie ample room to operate.

Oshie starts the season on the second line but should produce regardless. Last season he scored 12 goals and 34 points through 49 games including nine PP. Expect all of those totals to improve with a full season with Patrik Berglund and Chris Stewart.

Source:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch 2011-10-07T10:09:47.000Z
T.J. Oshie
Zac Dalpe(C)|FA
Line Change
Line Change
"I'm not taking anything for granted," the forward said. "I want to be here all 82 (games). I guess the season is 190 days, so I've got a 190 days of work ahead of me."

Dalpe will start the season on the fourth line. The team's top prospect scored 23 goals and 57 points through 61 games, earning 15 games with the big club. He figures to stick with the team all season which should produce a decent rookie year.

Source:
Canes Now 2011-10-07T09:49:34.000Z
Zac Dalpe
Dustin Byfuglien(RD)|FA
Line Change
Line Change
“The offensive ability is there,” Huddy said. “You can’t take that away from the guy. He can shoot the puck a ton. He’s able to score from the blue line. Not many guys can score from out there. But when you look at that trophy, it’s about being able to play in both ends and being a leader. He’s got that in his game. He just has to get it into his head now.

Sounds like the Jets want a more well-balanced Byfuglien this season. Last season, he broke career highs in goals, assists and points while adding a gaudy 347 shots on goal.

Source:
Winnipeg Sun 2011-10-07T09:48:13.000Z
Dustin Byfuglien
Marc-Andre Gragnani(D)|
Line Change
Line Change
Marc-Andre Gragnani's power-play skills have given him the edge over fellow defenseman Mike Weber, so Gragnani will be in the lineup tonight when the Sabres open the regular season against Anaheim.

After leading the team in postseason points, coach Lindy Ruff can't keep Gragnani out of the lineup. Last season he produced a goal and three points over nine games and should approach 30 points if he finds a full-time role this campaign.

Source:
Sabres Edge 2011-10-07T09:33:10.000Z
Marc-Andre Gragnani
Ryan Strome(C)|CGY
Line Change
Line Change
Capuano said Ryan Strome is not scheduled to be in the lineup Saturday night. #Isles

No word on his short-term role with the club. Strome impressed last season in the OHL, scoring 33 goals and 106 points. His excellent season led many to believe he could be this season's Jeff Skinner. Keep an eye on where Strome lands.

Source:
Brian Compton 2011-10-06T15:48:01.000Z
Ryan Strome
Mattias Sjogren()|
Line Change
Line Change
Although there's a provision in Mattias Sjogren's contract that would allow him to go back to Sweden, McPhee says he doesn't expect him to.

The 23-year-old pivot played for Farjestads BK Karlstad of the SEL last season and could have signed with any team this past offseason but chose the Capitals. He should be one of the team's first callups.

Source:
Katie Carrera 2011-10-06T15:42:14.000Z
Mattias Sjogren
Roman Horak(LW)|INA
Line Change
Line Change
The #Flames doing some powerplay work; first unit had Glencross/Moss-Horak-Iginla up front with Tanguay-Giordano on the point.

Looks like Horak gets some PP time. Last season he scored 26 goals and 78 points as a member of the now-defunct Chilliwack Bruins. Look for him to produce a few goals with his veteran linemates but he will likely be available on the waiver wire in your league.

Source:
Pat Steinberg 2018-07-18T17:53:30.440Z
Bryce Salvador(D)|FA
Line Change
Line Change
Salvador has been nursing some lower body aches and pains in the preseason but says he'll be ready on Saturday.

In 2009-2010, the Brandon, Manitoba native scored four goals and 14 points for the Devils. He likely helps Martin Brodeur and company a whole lot more than he will your fantasy hockey team.

Source:
NJ.com 2011-10-06T15:16:05.000Z
Bryce Salvador

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.