Here in the environmental study we’re going to identify the games with the best fantasy scoring environments for everyday of the NHL season. To do this we’re going to look at teams’ scoring chances for (SCF), scoring chances against (SCA), high danger chances for (HDF), high danger chances against (HDA), power play opportunities (PPO) and power play opportunities against (PPOA). The reason for applying those stats to this particular exercise is because they are the best indicator of a team’s scoring opportunities and we want to identify games with teams that possess the best combination of quality and quantity of scoring opportunities.
New York Islanders @ Tampa Bay Lightning
Totals: Highest 5.5 DK 5.5 FD 5.5
The New York Islanders (5-4-2) are finishing up their thirteen game road trip with back to back games in Florida, starting tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning (7-3-3). In their last four games the Islanders have seen 4 or more goals in three games and two of their games had 7 or more goals.
On the year New York has 339 shots for and 368 shots against, that breaks down to 30.81 shots for a game and 33.45 shots against. The Islanders average an identical 2.54 power play opportunities and power play opportunities against. New York checks in at 32nd in SCF (227, 20.63/game), 24th in SCA (269, 24.45/game), 24th in HDF (81, 7.36/game) and 23rd in HDA (84, 7.63/game).
Tampa Bay is coming off 3-2 victory against the Panthers and eight out of their last ten games have combined for 5 or more goals. The Lightning have put up 384 shots for, 29.53 per game and 385 shots against, 29.61 per game to go along with an average of 2.92 power play opportunities and 3.38 power play opportunities against. Tampa Bay ranks 24th in SCF (266, 20.46/game), 25th in SCA (267, 20.53/game), 25th in HDF (80, 6.15/game), and 29th in HDA (70, 5.38/game).
Detroit Red Wings @ Columbus Blue Jackets
Totals: Highest 5.5 DK 5.5 FD 5.5
The Detroit Red Wings (8-6-2) start off a four game road trip tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets (7-5-0). Detroit’s games have featured 5 or more goals in five of their last six games. So far this season the Red Wings have fired 468 shots for and 548 shots against and almost exactly the same amount of power play opportunities (52) as power plays against (54). Those per game averages are 29.25 shots for, 34.25 shots against, 3.25 power play opportunities and 3.37 power plays against.
Detroit ranks 12th in SCF (317, 19.81/game), 1st in SCA (389, 24.31/game), 8th in HDF (101, 6.31/game) and 2nd in HDA (124, 7.75/game).
Columbus has dropped two straight games and their games have seen 6 or more goals in five straight games. To date the Blue Jackets have 361 shots for and 417 shots against, 30.08 shots for and 34.75 shots against per game. Columbus is giving up slightly more power plays against (3.08/game) than earning power plays themselves (2.75/game).
The Blue Jackets rank 27th in SCF (261, 21.75/game), 27th in SCA (256, 21.33/game), 25th in HDF (80, 6.66/game) and 30th in HDA (66, 5.5/game).
Dave Leonard is our Lead Fantasy Writer at HW Hockey
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