Fantasy Hockey: Weekend Streaming Targets – Week 8
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 two games on Friday, 13 on Saturday, and five on Sunday, so, as per usual, we will target the skaters playing on those two quieter nights. Below, we break down the two teams that fit into those parameters.
Columbus Blue Jackets – vs OTT (Fri), @ BOS (Sun)
Patrik Laine (C/LW/RW) – 51% owned
Laine’s struggles this season have been well documented, and his ownership has dipped as a result, but if he is available in your league, there is no better time to give him an audition than this weekend when the Blue Jackets are one of only two teams playing on Friday and Sunday. Laine has just three points in five games since being infamously scratched on Nov. 19 in Philadelphia. That said, his usage is creeping back up, and he is coming off two of his most promising games of the season in a 5-2 victory over the Bruins on Monday and a 4-2 defeat to the Habs on Wednesday. Laine played slightly under 17 minutes against the Bruins and registered an assist and five shots on goal before registering a goal on two shots against the Habs. Laine’s talent and upside do not need to be sold, as it is all about the usage and getting his confidence back. Remember, Laine had 52 points in 55 games just a season ago. He is currently skating alongside Adam Fantilli and Alexander Texier on the Blue Jackets second line and has resumed his role atop the first power-play unit. Ottawa, in particular, offers Laine a great chance to continue to regain his form on Friday, with the Senators currently boasting the 7th worst penalty kill in the league.
Kirill Marchenko (RW) – 24% owned
Marchenko’s stock and ownership continue to rise, yet he is still available in just over three-quarters of Yahoo leagues. He is playing in a great spot right now alongside Boone Jenner and Johnny Gaudreau on the Jackets’ first line, as well as their top power-play unit. He showed us last year how good of a goal scorer he can be and is finally getting the time-on-ice he deserves. Marchenko registered an ATOI of 18:25 in his past five games, picking up three goals and an assist in that span. The shot volume has been as good as expected, with 59 shots on goal in 22 games on the season, and that should only continue to rise as he solidifies his role in the Blue Jackets top-six. He is worthy of a long-term addition right now, and given the usage, he would be my top preference above Laine in terms of streaming targets this weekend.
Adam Fantilli (C) – 25% owned
Rounding out the Blue Jackets is Adam Fantilli, mentioned above, playing with Laine and Texier on the second line. He is relegated to the second power-play unit, but the shot volume has been very impressive considering the limited role. Fantilli has registered 61 shots across 23 games despite an ATOI of 15:33 and has been unfortunate to score just four times on the season. Positive regression should be coming his way sooner than later, and the Blue Jackets look to have secured a great building block for their future in the 19-year-old Fantilli. He may only be worthy of a long-term roster spot in keeper and dynasty formats for now, but he is a more than viable streaming option this weekend, given the size of the slates.
San Jose Sharks – @ NJD (Fri), @ NYR (Sun)
The matchups are brutal, and of course, so are the Sharks, but given the lack of options this weekend, a couple of names still need to be mentioned.
Tomas Hertl (C) – 39% owned
Hertl missed Monday’s game due to a kidney stone but miraculously returned to face the Bruins on Thursday. He remains one of the few San Jose Sharks worth squeezing into your lineup when their schedule lines up, as it does this weekend. Hertl has picked up four goals and 12 assists in 22 games this season despite a serious lack of offensive talent around him.
Fabian Zetterlund (LW) – 3% owned
Zetterlund is worthy of a punt in deeper leagues this weekend. He has seen his usage and shot volume skyrocket recently, registering an ATOI of 19:44 across his last six games while firing 22 shots on goal. He has just two goals in that span, but that shot volume is worth rolling the dice on in deeper leagues where the names mentioned above are unavailable. Zetterlund and Hertl carry an obvious risk in formats that account for plus/minus, especially given the matchups.
Goaltenders
If you are looking to steal your matchup with a spot start in goal on Sunday, there are two names you will want to rush to the wire for. The first is Jonathan Quick, who has seen his ownership climb to 43%, given his surprisingly outstanding play this season. The Rangers are in Nashville on Saturday before hosting the Sharks in a salivating matchup on Sunday. Assuming Igor Shesterkin gets the nod on Saturday, Quick will arguably be the number-one netminder on Sunday, and he is available in 57% of leagues. Quick has been outstanding when called upon this season, compiling a 6-0-1 record to go along with a sparkling 1.99 GAA and a .930 SV%. If he is available in your league, do everything in your power to make room for him as soon as Shesterkin is hopefully confirmed to play on Saturday.
If you miss out on Quick, Kevin Lankinen is just 1% owned and is a worthy consolation prize. As mentioned, the Predators host the Rangers on Saturday before travelling to Buffalo in a favourable road matchup on Sunday. Lankinen has been solid when given the chance to play this season, with a 3-1-0 record and a .913 SV% across five appearances. He has a great bet to add to your win totals this weekend and comes at little to no risk to your splits.