Looks like Chara-Hamilton. #Bruins
With Seidenberg missing todays game it looks like rookie Dougie Hamilton will get a chance to play with Chara. This is a great opportunity for the young defenseman if he sees top pair minutes with big Z.
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NHL Scratches & Line Changes
Line Change
Fraser in on Leafs blueline. Likely on pairing with Holzer, as two played together with Marlies. Franson appears to be out.
Neither Fraser nor Holzer are going to be fantasy relevant until they earn regular playing time.
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.
Line Change
Despres has ben demoted to the third D-pair.
After spending much of camp alongside Letang, Despres was on the third defense pairing with Engelland in final day of practice. His fantasy value has definitely decreased since yesterday.
Line Change
Kassian with Twins in line drills.
If Kassian plays with the Sedin twins it gives him a significant boost in fantasy value. He would provide some toughness and protection for the twins, but he is no slouch when it comes to scoring. Keep an eye on him, if he starts with the Sedin's he is worth an add.
Line Change
Despres might log a lot of minutes alongside partner Kris Letang.
Despres was a healthy scratch in the AHL during the lockout... But has the tools to be a good fantasy option. Especially playing for the Penguins and alongside one of fantasy's top D-men in Letang.
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.
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.
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.
Line Change
Kovalchuk is in New Jersey, skating with Zajac and Zubrus.
Kovalchuk is the source of offense for the Devils now with Parise gone. Look for Zajac to pile up the assists on Kovalchuk goals. Zajac isn't ranked very high on any fantasy sites. He could be a nice sleeper.
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.
Alex Ovechkin may see time on Capitals' penalty kill
This is good news for owners who have Ovie in leagues that have Average Time on Ice and Shorthanded Goals as categories.
Line Change
Hemsky-Gagner-Yakupov
Hemsky as been impressed with Yakupov and have shown good early chemistry. The Oilers second line has to score for the Oilers to be successful, the early chemistry could help this trio to a hot start.
Sergei Bobrovsky and Steve Mason battle for #1 goalie spot in Columbus.
Neither goalie is a great fantasy option because Columbus doesn't figure to be very competitive this season. However Bobrovsky had one of the KHL's best G.A.A. during the lockout. So keep an eye on his numbers.
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.
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.
Line Change
Bennett skating with Malkin and Neal. Tangradi working with Megna and Jeffrey.
Tangradi skated with Malkin and Neal yesterday, but the 21 year old Bennett was on that line today. Monitor this line going forward because whoever plays with Malkin and Neal will receive a large boost in fantasy value.
Line Change
Stamkos and St. Louis paired with Malone.
Malone is a consistent 40-50 point producer every season. Playing with Stamkos and St. Louis will generate chances for him on a nightly basis. Malone could be a solid late pick or waiver pickup.
Alexander Ovechkin could start the season at right wing.
If the Capitals keep Ovechkin on the RW, he would get dual eligibility at LW and RW.
Line Change
Tangradi - Malkin - Neal;
Tangradi has 1 goal in 40 career NHL games so he isn't really an ideal fantasy player. He's been able to find the net in the AHL, so maybe playing with Malkin and Neal will spark some goal scoring from Tangradi.
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.