Fantasy Hockey: Weekend Streaming Targets – Week 19
Our Weekend Streamers series aims to help you steal your matchup by getting the most value possible out of the limited transactions in your fantasy league. Every Friday morning, we will break down the teams and skaters with the most streamer-friendly schedules over the weekend. We will also look at the best spot starts in goal each weekend, highlighting the widely-available goaltenders that could provide the boost and edge you need to win your matchup.
This weekend features three games on Friday, 13 on Saturday, and seven on Sunday, so as per usual, we are going to target the skaters playing on those two quieter nights. We have four teams to dig through this week, so let’s get into it. Happy streaming!
Buffalo Sabres–@ CBJ (Fri), vs. CAR (Sun)
Casey Mittelstadt (C) – 25% owned
Available in 75% of leagues, Mittelstadt is one of the best widely-available options the Sabres have to offer us this weekend. The 25-year-old is currently centering Dylan Cozens and Jordan Greenway on Buffalo’s second line while also seeing some time with the second power-play unit. Mittelstadt has gone pointless in his last two but was enjoying himself a heater before that, registering two goals and seven assists in his previous eleven games. A lack of shot volume caps his upside, but he’s a good bet to add to your assist totals this weekend.
JJ Peterka (RW) – 21% owned
Peterka continues to rack up shots at an astounding rate despite being limited to a role on the Sabres’ third line and second power-play unit. He’s managed to pile up 43 shots on goal in his last 12 games while playing under 16 minutes a night, scoring six goals and adding four assists in the process. At just 22 years of age, Peterka is a must-own in any keeper or dynasty format, and his impressive shot volume means he is a very viable streaming option in redraft leagues this weekend, even in a limited role.
Chicago Blackhawks–vs. WPG (Fri), vs. DET (Sun)
Philipp Kurashev (C) 4% owned
Kurashev continues to be one of the few bright spots on this Blackhawks team, but a brutal matchup spread this weekend means he should really only be considered as a streaming target in deeper leagues. Skating alongside Connor Bedard on the team’s first line and power-play unit, Kurashev saw his six-game point streak come to an end when Chicago suffered a 3-1 loss to the Flyers on Wednesday. With just nine goals on the season, Kurashev possesses little goal-scoring upside, but his playmaking ability and exposure to Bedard makes him a sneaky source of assists that’s available in 96% of leagues heading into the weekend.
Columbus Blue Jackets–vs. BUF (Fri), vs. NYR (Sun)
Given the balanced ice-time and the lack of goals to go around in this top-nine, I’m fading the Blue Jackets this weekend assuming Johnny Gaudreau (55% owned) and Boone Jenner (53% owned) are not available. Jenner has been particularly productive of late, scoring five times and adding three assists while racking up 22 shoots on goal in his last five games, but there simply isn’t enough consistency to recommend anyone beyond that top line given a lackluster matchup spread. Columbus will be heavy underdogs against the Rangers on Sunday, and I feel much better attacking the inverse side of Friday’s matchup with the likes of Mittelstadt and Peterka.
Winnipeg Jets–@ CHI (Fri), vs. ARI (Sun)
Gabriel Vilardi (C/RW) 42% owned
Finally we have the Jets, the stars of this weekend’s streamers, headlined by the red-hot Vilardi. Vilardi snapped out of a six-game pointless streak in the most productive way this past week, and his ownership is sky-rocketing as a result, but he still remains available in 58% of leagues. Over his last three games, Vilardi has scored four goals and added five assists while registering 12 shots on goal, skating alongside the likes of Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele on the team’s top line and power-play unit. If Vilardi is available in your league, don’t overthink this one. Grab him immediately. The matchup spread is fantastic, the usage is ideal, and he’s as hot as anyone in the league right now.
Sean Monahan (C) 34% owned
After going pointless in his first four games as a Jet, Monahan is starting to settle in, scoring five times in his last three games, including a hat-trick against the Flames on Monday. While he’s limited to a role as the team’s second-line centre at 5v5, that still leaves him with a pair of quality linemates in Nikolaj Ehlers and Cole Perfetti, and he is being heavily-featured on the Jets’ first power-play unit. His upside may not be quite as high as Vilardi’s, but it’s not far off. Another great bet to pad your goal totals this weekend.
Cole Perfetti (C/LW) 17% owned
Pointless in his last 11 games, Perfetti is beyond due, and there’s no better time for him to bust out of that slump than this weekend given a pair of dream matchups against the Blackhawks and Coyotes. He has been ice-cold of late, but Perfetti continues to get consistent minutes in the Jets’ top-six as well as on the second power-play unit. His upside this weekend is clearly no where near Monahan’s or Vilardi’s, but he still remains a worthy consolation prize if the two top-tier options are not available in your league. Look for him to snap that 11-game point drought this weekend.
Goaltenders
Given the busier-than-usual size of Sunday’s seven-game slate, there are plenty of teams rocking the Saturday/Sunday back-to-back this weekend, so I’ve highlighted my top three projected spot starts below.
James Reimer – 5% owned
The Red Wings are hosting St. Louis on Saturday before travelling to Chicago on Sunday. Afternoon games can can sometimes bring surprises in goal, but assuming Alex Lyon faces the Blues on Saturday, that should leave Reimer to get the call against the lowly Blackhawks on Sunday. Reimer has been inconsistent at best this season, but I’m more than happy to roll the dice on him in this contest. It’s a fantastic matchup, and he’s coming off a 38-save shutout against the Flames his last time out.
Spencer Martin – 4% owned
The Hurricanes are at home to the Stars on Saturday before travelling to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Sunday. Logic suggests Pyotr Kochetkov should get the nod for the front-end of the back-to-back on Saturday, which would leave an enticing matchup for Martin on Sunday. Martin is a perfect 3-0 with a .920 SV% in his first three starts as a Hurricane, and he would be in an ideal spot to keep the ball rolling on Sunday.
Kevin Lankinen – 1% owned
Finally, the Predators are in California this weekend, playing the Sharks on Saturday before heading down to SoCal to face the Ducks on Sunday. I would expect the Preds to go back to starter Juuse Saros for Saturday’s game in San Jose, which would leave Lankinen as a heavy favourite to secure a victory over the Ducks on Sunday’s seven-game slate. With an .888 SV% on the season, Lankinen’s own play has been shaky at best, but he’s consistently delivered the W in these ideal matchups, as evident by his 7-4-0 record. There’s no reason to expect any different come Sunday.