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NHL Scratches & Line Changes

Tomas Vincour(C)|
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Eriksson-Benn-Vincour

Looks like Vincour starts the season on the second line. He scored a goal and an assist over 24 games with the Stars last season. The former Vancouver Giant never scored more than 17 goals at any level so don't expect too much production from the 20-year-old. Nevertheless his two goals and four points over six preseason games could indicate a step in the right direction.

Source:
Dallas Morning News 2011-10-03T13:40:36.000Z
Tomas Vincour
Erik Gudbranson(D)|CBJ
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#FlaPanthers HC Dineen announces Gudbranson will play in first #NHL game Saturday

Gudbranson should at least stick with the club on a nine-game tryout. Last season he scored 12 goals and 34 points over 44 games with the Kingston Frontenacs. However, considering the team has no reason to rush their youngsters, expect another year of close-to-no fantasy hockey impact.

Source:
@FlaPanthers 2011-10-03T12:52:19.000Z
Erik Gudbranson
Matt Frattin(RW)|
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The cuts mean that rookies Matt Frattin and Jake Gardiner have made the team.

As a senior at the University of North Dakota, Frattin potted 36 goals and finished the season with 60 points in 44 games. Keep an eye on how he reacts to a scoring line role.

Source:
Globe & Mail 2011-10-03T12:48:32.000Z
Matt Frattin
Jake Gardiner(LD)|FA
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The cuts mean that rookies Matt Frattin and Jake Gardiner have made the team.

As one of the better defensive prospects in hockey, Gardiner could make the team and push a veteran out of a job. Last season, he scored 10 goals and 41 points in as many games with the University of Wisconsin. The team will keep him on a tight leash as he could use a bit more time in the AHL after playing only 10 games with the Marlies last season.

Source:
Globe & Mail 2011-10-03T12:47:42.000Z
Jake Gardiner
Dmitry Orlov(D)|SJS
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The 20-year-old Russian was in the lineup as the sixth defenseman in place of Jeff Schultz and it appeared possible that the Caps could start with the pairings of Karl Alzner and John Carlson, Roman Hamrlik and Mike Green and then Orlov and Dennis Wideman.

Sounds like Orlov makes the team in place of John Erskine and Jeff Schultz. Last season, the Russian expatriate scored two goals and nine points in 19 games with the Bears. He should get a chance to play on the bottom pairing and could even chip in some points if paired with Dennis Wideman.

Source:
Capitals Watch 2011-10-03T12:23:02.000Z
Dmitry Orlov
Dainius Zubrus(RW)|
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Ilya Kovalchuk-Dainius Zubrus-Nick Palmieri

Zubrus will see a spike in his value if he centers Kovalchuk for an extended period of time. The versatile forward scored 13 goals and 30 points last season while missing only three games. Look for him to move between the top and third line all season.

Source:
NJ.com 2011-10-03T11:55:35.000Z
Dainius Zubrus
Jacob Josefson(C)|
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Josefson and Kovalchuk are separated.

Josefson centered a line with Adam Henrique and David Clarkson. Last season he scored three goals and 10 points last season for the Devils, breaking his arm in the middle of the season. He should see time next to Kovalchuk at some point this season.

Source:
NJ.com 2011-10-03T11:48:35.000Z
Jacob Josefson
Matt Read(RW)|FA
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Sources continue to say that 18-year-old rookie Sean Couturier and 25-year-old Matt Read are both on the roster.

Good news for Read, who proved himself ready with a strong preseason. Last season the versatile forward scored 22 goals and 35 points through 37 games at Bemidji State University before finishing the season strongly with the Adirondack Phantoms. Expect him to add some grit and offense to the bottom two lines.

Source:
CSN Philly 2011-10-03T11:40:55.000Z
Matt Read
Brayden Schenn(C)|NYI
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Sources continue to say that 18-year-old rookie Sean Couturier and 25-year-old Matt Read are both on the roster.

Schenn may have made the roster but isn't 100 percent healthy at this point. Last season Schenn scored 21 goals and 53 points over 27 games for the Saskatoon Blades following playing for the Los Angeles Kings, Manchester Monarchs and Brandon Wheat Kings. Expect him to be eased into the lineup.

Source:
CSN Philly 2011-10-03T11:37:50.000Z
Brayden Schenn
Slava Voynov(D)|
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Murray said that Drew Doughty will play tomorrow, and said that Slava Voynov would as well.

Voynov deserves an extended look after impressing during preseason. Last season he managed to score 15 goals and 51 points with the Manchester Monarchs, proving his NHL readiness. Look for him to fill in for any wounded d-man and possibly playing on one of the two PP units.

Source:
LA Kings Insider 2011-10-03T11:36:25.000Z
Slava Voynov
Ryan Reaves(RW)|FA
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Reaves learned after the Blues' preseason finale that he had made the final cut, and in the same few hours, he realized his role could be magnified following news that B.J. Crombeen suffered a broken left shoulder in Saturday's 4-0 loss to Dallas and will be sidelined indefinitely.

With Crombeen out, Reaves takes his spot on the fourth line. Last season he posted an impressive 78 PIM in 28 games for the Blues and has posted 130 or more over the past three seasons in the AHL. If you need PIM, expect Reaves to approach 200 while adding no more than five goals.

Source:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch 2011-10-03T11:25:01.000Z
Ryan Reaves
Kris Letang(D)|PIT
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"Obviously, I want to take more [of a role] in the room, be a bigger leader. But people don't really know me as a guy who talks a lot. I'm a guy who's going to go on the ice and be an example. But that's something I've tried to do a little more, talk to the young guys and try to maybe lead the way."

In his fifth full season, Letang will be relied upon to lead the Pens blue line. Last season he scored eight goals and 50 points through 82 games but his play drastically fell off when Sidney Crosby got hurt. Look for Letang to improve his consistency this season as he ascends to the elite level.

Source:
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 2011-10-03T11:23:17.000Z
Kris Letang
Tom Gilbert(D)|
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Tom Gilbert, who played more than 33 minutes against the Wild and 25 against the Canucks in Vancouver on Saturday, along with Cam Barker, Theo Peckham and Andy Sutton are the only blue-liners ready to go who are 100 per cent.

With Whitney out, look for Gilbert to run the blue line offensively. Last season he scored six goals and 26 points with a minus-14 rating. If you can spare the minus, Gilbert could approach his previous 45-point totals.

Source:
Edmonton Journal 2011-10-03T11:19:52.000Z
Tom Gilbert
Philip Larsen(D)|
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FRISCO -- The Dallas Stars held the 2011 Alumni Classic in Frisco Sunday night and among the current players suiting up were forward Tomas Vincour and defenseman Philip Larsen.

The Stars have big plans for their Danish defenseman. Last season he scored four goals and 21 points over 54 games with the Texas Stars and two assists over six games with the Stars. If he makes the team, expect him to see plenty of offensive minutes and PP time.

Source:
Andrew's Stars Blog 2011-10-03T11:09:16.000Z
Philip Larsen
Tomas Vincour(C)|
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FRISCO -- The Dallas Stars held the 2011 Alumni Classic in Frisco Sunday night and among the current players suiting up were forward Tomas Vincour and defenseman Philip Larsen.

Vincour scored a goal and an assist over 24 games with the Stars last season. The former Vancouver Giant never scored more than 17 goals at any level so don't expect too much production from the 20-year-old. Nevertheless his two goals and four points over six preseason games could indicate a step in the right direction.

Source:
Andrew's Stars Blog 2011-10-03T10:03:52.000Z
Tomas Vincour
Michal Neuvirth(G)|
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Barring injury, there was nothing Michal Neuvirth to do this preseason to change his role with the Capitals. Tomas Vokoun is the starter

Neuvirth starts the season as the backup but is perfectly capable of handling the starting job if called upon. He posted a 2.45 GAA and ,914 SV% over 48 games played last season but figures to play significantly less with Tomas Vokoun the acting starting goalie. His best fantasy hockey value would be as a handcuff to Vokoun.

Source:
Capitals Watch 2011-10-03T08:32:13.000Z
Michal Neuvirth
Tomas Vokoun(G)|INA
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Barring injury, there was nothing Michal Neuvirth to do this preseason to change his role with the Capitals. Tomas Vokoun is the starter

The Caps clearly signed Tomas Vokoun as their starting goalie in an attempt to better their team. Last season, the Czech native finished the season with a tidy 2.55 GAA and .922 SV%. With the Caps his peripherals should improve while his win totals skyrocket.

Source:
Capitals Watch 2018-07-18T17:53:34.326Z
Mathieu Perreault(C)|FA
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“Well, we have an idea. We know what we’re going to do. I think our best player all of camp was Perreault,” Boudreau said. “Played with energy every night and I think he was very similar last year but we’ll sit down tomorrow and discuss all of this.”

The diminutive center proved everything he could in the AHL, leading most to think he sticks with the team. When playing a top six role he plays significantly better than on a bottom line. At this point it sounds like he sticks with the club as a healthy scratch ready to jump into the top-6 if necessary.

Source:
Capitals Insider 2011-10-03T08:28:29.000Z
Mathieu Perreault
Craig Anderson(G)|FA
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From our Famous Last Words Dept., this just in: Ottawa Senator goalie Craig Anderson is not worried about being worn out halfway through the season by a steady diet of 40-shot games, because he’s older and wiser and used to the mental strain of being an NHL goalie.

Anderson started 71 games just two seasons ago, making him a reliable starting goalie. Last season he posted a 2.05 GAA and .939 SV% over 18 games with the Sens. He could very well surprise in his first full season in Ottawa.

Source:
Senators Extra 2011-10-03T08:25:52.000Z
Craig Anderson

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.