Fantasy Hockey: Weekly Strength of Schedule and Streaming Targets — Week 3
Identifying the players with four games each week and filling your roster with those players can increase your chances of winning your fantasy hockey matchup. That’s why our Weekly Schedule tool is so helpful!
I took that weekly schedule and combined it with a Team Defense Score I created using key defensive metrics to find which teams/skaters have the easiest schedule this week.
Week 3 — Strength of Schedule
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks have the easiest schedule this week, but it’s not the most streamer-friendly. They play on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. It’s not recommended to stream players that play on busy days because it’s much more challenging to get them into your lineup.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs are on a west-coast road trip and have four games this week, including games on Monday and Sunday.
Potential Streaming Targets:
Nick Robertson (LW – 24% Rostered)
Robertson is a great streaming target because he carries long-term value if he continues to skate in the top-6 with John Tavares and William Nylander. Robertson scored two goals, including the game-winner, in his season debut but was held off the scoresheet with two shots on Saturday. However, he’s played nearly 60 5v5 TOI with Tavares and Nylander over the last three seasons, and the results have been terrific. The trio has averaged 3.3 xGF/60 and 44.4 SCF/60, so Robertson should have plenty of chances to produce.
Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights have the fourth-easiest schedule of the week but also have a very streamer-friendly schedule, playing Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Three of their four games come on the quieter nights in the NHL, so you’ll have no problem getting them in your lineups this week.
Potential Streaming Targets:
Reilly Smith (RW – 17% Rostered)
Smith is a great streaming target because he can get hot but doesn’t really have the upside to hold onto long-term. He’s been skating with Jack Eichel and Phil Kessel for the first two weeks of the season, and the results have been strong. He’s scored one goal with two assists in six games and has yet to have fewer than three shots in a game. He’s averaging 3.8 shots per game, so at the very least, he won’t leave you empty-handed on any given night. Eichel, Smith, and Kessel are currently averaging 2.61 GF/60 and 37.9 SCF/60, so they should continue to roll this week.
Phil Kessel (RW – 12% Rostered)
If Smith isn’t available, Kessel is a decent consolation prize. He’s had a quiet start to the season and isn’t the volume shooter he used to be, but he’s still averaging over 2.0 shots per game (2.2) through six games with Vegas. He’s skating with Eichel on a busy week for the Golden Knights, so consider him a solid plug-and-play on Monday, Friday, and Sunday.
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets have the seventh-easiest schedule this week and play Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, so you’ll get at least three games from their streaming targets.
Potential Streaming Targets:
Cole Perfetti (C/RW – 15% Rostered)
Perfetti is a great streaming option because he’s another good week from being on your team full-time. He comes into Monday’s game on a three-game point streak, having picked up a goal and three assists in four games last week. Perfetti is a highly touted prospect playing top-6 minutes with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Blake Wheeler, a line averaging 3.2 xGF/60 and 38.8 SCF/60. He should continue to pick up points, and it’s great to see the Arizona Coyotes on the schedule on Friday.
Mason Appleton (RW – 0% Owned)
With Nikolaj Ehlers on IR, Appleton has been given a shot on the Jets’ top line with Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor. It’s unclear if he’s the permanent solution, but he had two assists and seven shots while averaging 17:54 TOI/gm in that spot a week ago. So if you’re in a deep league, Appleton is a solid option while he’s skating on the Jets’ top line.
New Jersey Devils
The Devils may not have the easiest schedule this week (12th), but they play Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Sunday and have plenty of streaming options.
Potential Streaming Targets:
Nico Hischier (C – 39% Owned)
Hischier may not be available, but he’s looked terrific so far this season and should be rostered immediately if he’s available in your league. He has six points (2G / 4A) through four games and has nearly doubled his shot volume from a season ago. Hischier will play massive minutes every night, and the trio of Hischier, Ondrej Palat, and Jesper Bratt has been fantastic. They’re averaging. 2.8 xGF/60 and 40.2 SCF/60, so expect this hot start to continue.
Dawson Mercer (C/RW – 19% Rostered)
Mercer is much more readily available than Hischier and has the luxury of playing with Jack Hughes. Mercer has also drastically increased his shot volume early in the season, going from 6.8 SOG/60 to 11.0 SOG/60. Hughes, Mercer, and Yegor Sharangovich have played together a lot over the last year, posting a strong 2.8 xGF/60 and 35.7 SCF/60. Playing on that line at 5v5 and seeing top power-play deployment should lead to a big season for the 20-year-old.
Yegor Sharangovich (C/LW – 9% Owned)
As noted above, Sharnagovich is the third member of that dominant line and is widely available on the wire. The only downfall for Sharnagovich is that he isn’t seeing any PP time this season after seeing PP2 usage last year. Still, he’s got two points (1G / 1A) in five games, and his shot volume is consistent with last year when he scored 24 goals in 76 games.