DelcoDave

"Daily Fantasy Sports Hockey Strategist"

Lincoln, NE • United States •

NHL DFS Environmental Study 12/16/21

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.

Los Angeles Kings @ Florida Panthers

Totals: Highest 6 DK 6 FD 6

In the midst of a four game road trip through the South Eastern United State the Los Angeles Kings (12-10-5) visit the Florida Panthers (18-6-4) tonight. Five of the Kings last seven road games have featured 5 or more goals.

LA generates plenty of consistent offensive pressure, ranking 7th in SCF (652, 24.14/game) and 14th in HDF (181, 6.7/game). Their excellent shot volume (953, 35.29/game) and heightened amount of PPO (89, 3.29/game) are rendered less effective because of their poor shooting efficiency (6.3% 27th).

With two top ten rankings in defensive scoring chance categories, 9th in SCA (633, 23.44/game) and 10th in HDA (192, 7.11/game), the Kings have been a favorable team to target for fantasy managers. The amount of shots against (814. 30.14/game) they face is also enticing, however a lack of PPOA (69, 2.55/game) and an elite save percentage (.939 4th) should temper our expectations a bit.

The Panthers are coming off a stunning 8-2 loss at the hands of the lowly Senators and will look to take out their frustrations on the Kings. Florida has seen 5 or more goals in eight of their last nine games.

The Panthers’ offense is among the leagues very best with top three rankings in both scoring chance categories, ranking 2nd in SCF (723, 25.82/game) and 3rd in HDF (224, 8/game) with a healthy amount of PPO (91, 3.25/game). Their mouth watering shot volume (1010, 36.07/game) and amazing shooting percentage (8.2% 7th) makes their offense even more lethal.

Defensively Florida is all over the map with a bottom third ranking in SCA, 26th (542, 19.35/game) but a top five ranking in HDA, 4th (205, 7.32/game). The rest of their numbers range from mediocre to above average, PPOA (88, 3.14/game), shots against (863, 30.82/game) and save percentage (.923 19th).

Both of these offenses have been among the most consistent in the league to date and neither of these defenses will put up very much resistance.

Philadelphia Flyers @ Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens (6-21-3) have dropped thirteen of there last fifteen games and they host the Philadelphia Flyers (11-12-4) tonight. In five of their last six games the Habs have seen 5 or more goals.

The Canadiens five on five offense is creating plenty of chances for themselves, ranking 11th in SCF (631, 21.03/game) and 11th in HDF (186, 6.2/game). Their shot volume (872, 29.06/game) is just middling and their basement level shooting percentage (6.1% 29th) combined with an underwhelming amount of PPO (86, 2.86/game) compounds the issue.

Montreal’s defense has been a hot bed for fantasy activity all season and that should continue here, with them ranking 3rd in SCA (691, 23.03/game) and 1st in HDA (223, 7.43/game). They also contend with a fair amount of PPOA (93, 3.1/game) and many shots against (996, 33.2/game) while only offering up a middling save percentage (.922 21st) as a resistance.

Philadelphia is riding high on a three game winning streak as they head to Canada. The Flyers’ games have only seen less than 7 goals just once in their last six games.

The Flyers offense is on the rise right now with 4+ goals in four of their last five games but that hasn’t improved their season rankings much just yet, ranking 26th in SCF (533, 19.74/game) and 16th in HDF (177, 6.55/game). Their shot volume (837, 31/game) is more than adequate but dismal shooting efficiency (6.6% 24th) and an inability to draw PPO (78, 2.88/game) keeps their offensive ceiling in check.

Just like their opponents tonight Philadelphia’s defense will do everything it can to help the other team score. Both their rankings in scoring chances are in the top ten, 9th in SCA (633, 23.44/game) and 6th in HDA (201, 7.44/game) and their middle of the road save percentage (.924 18th) doesn’t offer much push back. They face a startling amount of shots against (932, 34.51/game) and have to survive a healthy amount of PPOA (89, 3.29/game).

These two teams bring in consistently cellar level defenses and offenses that deliver outcomes ranging from poor to phenomenal, expect ceiling level offensive performances tonight.