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.
Carolina Hurricanes @ Chicago Blackhawks
Totals: Highest 6 DK 6 FD 6
The last remaining undefeated team, the Carolina Hurricanes (8-0-0), take on the Chicago Blackhawks (1-7-2) fresh off their first win of the season. Six out of Carolina’s eight games have had 5 or more goals and the Hurricanes have scored 4 or more goals in five games this year. Hurricanes’ games this season average 5.6 goals, 63 total shots on goal and 8.5 power plays. Carolina has been very efficient shooting this year with a 9% (5th) shooting percentage while averaging 21.7 SCF and 7.1 HDF per game. The Hurricanes rank 22nd in SCF (174), 30th in SCA (156), 11th in HDF (57) and 16th in HDA (53).
Chicago’s games featured 5 or more goals in nine out of their ten games this season and the Blackhawks have given up 4 or more goals in seven games. On the season Chicago’s games are averaging 6 goals, 62.1 total shots on goal and 7.3 power plays per game. The Blackhawks are averaging 32.4 shots on goal against and their goalies have a combined sub .900 save percentage (.883). Chicago ranks 14th in SCF (183), 4th in SCA (221), 21st in HDF (51) and 9th in HDA (60). This game presents as a one sided affair and I expect Carolina’s 4th ranked power play (28.13%) to do most of the damage.
St. Louis Blues @ Los Angeles Kings
Totals: Highest 5.5 DK 5.5 FD 5.5
The St. Louis Blues (6-1-0) head out to California to take on the Los Angeles Kings (2-5-1) for the third time this season. St. Louis won both of the previous games 3-0 and 7-3. Four of the Blues seven games have featured goal totals of 7 or more, including two games that hit double digit goals. For the season Blues’ games are averaging 6.2 goals, 66.5 total shots on goal and 6.1 power plays, St. Louis is also leading the league in shooting percentage (9.8%). The Blues have played the fewest games of any team so far and it reflects in their overall rankings checking in at 23rd in SCF (170), 15th in SCA (179), 27th in HDF (47) and 21st in HDA (50) but they are averaging nearly 25 SCF per game (24.2) and over 7 HDF (7.1).
To date Kings’ games have averaged 5.6 goals, 65.4 total shots on goal and 6.6 power plays. LA’s disappointing shooting percentage (6.6% 21st) hasn’t allowed them to take advantage of their impressive scoring chance numbers yet but positive regression is coming. The Kings rank 2nd in SCF (223), 12th in SCA (190), 7th in HDF (63) and 18th in HDA (52). These two teams have already shown us that their styles of play can lead to high scoring affairs, as evidenced by their 7-3 game just over a week ago, there should be plenty of options for fantasy points in this game too.
Dave Leonard is our Lead Fantasy Writer at HW Hockey
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