Fantasy Hockey: Weekend Streaming Targets – Week 9
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, 12 on Saturday and eight on Sunday, so we will target the skaters playing on those two quieter nights. Four teams meet that criteria this week.
Columbus Blue Jackets – vs. STL (Fri), vs. FLA(Sun)
Patrik Laine (C/LW/RW) – 47% owned
Laine missed each of Columbus’ last two games due to an illness, so his status will be worth monitoring ahead of Friday’s home matchup against the Blues, but if he is available, he makes for a strong play in shallower leagues this weekend. Laine’s struggles on the season have been well-documented, and his ownership has dipped below 50% as a result, but the talent is obvious, and he was starting to turn a bit of a corner before his most recent two-game absence. He’s compiled two goals and one assist in his last four games while registering 10 shots on goal and should return to his regular spot on the Blue Jackets’ top powerplay unit and, if healthy, is an obvious streaming target this weekend.
Adam Fantilli (C) – 23% owned
Fantilli’s shot volume remains impressive despite inconsistent usage over the last week. He’s picked up three goals and two assists while firing 11 shots on goal across his last four games despite playing less than 14 minutes a night. He is currently skating with the team’s top powerplay unit, though that could change if Laine can return to the lineup this weekend. His diminished role and ice time limit his upside, but Fantilli is still worthy of a roll of the dice this weekend, particularly in formats that reward shots on goal.
Kirill Marchenko (RW) – 14% owned
Marchenko’s fantasy stock took a hit last week after he dropped to the second line, but his continued presence on that first powerplay unit means he’s still worthy of a pickup in deeper leagues this weekend. Like Fantilli, a lack of quality ice time limits his upside, but he can be a valuable asset in leagues that favour shots on goal and is always a threat to find the back of the net.
Edmonton Oilers–vs. MIN (Fri), vs. NJD (Sun)
The top-heavy nature of the Oilers’ offence leaves us with little to no streaming options on the wire. In truth, the only semi-viable option here would be Mattias Ekholm (D – 28% owned), and his value is limited to leagues that reward miscellaneous stats such as blocked shots, hits, and shots on goal, as his contributions to any of your offensive stats will be negligible at best.
Florida Panthers–vs. PIT (Fri), @ CBJ (Sun)
Evan Rodrigues (C/LW/RW) – 47% owned
His ownership has climbed over 15% in the last 24 hours thanks to a four-point performance on Wednesday, but Rodrigues is still available in over 50% of leagues ahead of a favourable weekend schedule. The 30-year-old journeyman has been on a tear over the last week, racking up 7 points while firing 11 shots on goal over his last three games. It comes at the heels of an eight-game pointless streak, though anyone with an eye for regression would tell you he was due for a bit of a breakout after he compiled 20 shots on goal during that span. While a lack of time on the top powerplay unit may cap his overall upside, Rodrigues is skating alongside Aleksander Barkov and Sam Reinhart on the Panthers’ first line. That elite 5v5 usage, combined with his consistent shot volume, makes him one of the strongest bets you could make this weekend.
Sam Bennett (C) – 25% owned
Bennett continues to find his form after injuries threw a wrench into the start of his 2023-24 campaign, registering three goals, two assists, and 20 shots on goal across his last eight games. Unlike Rodrigues, Bennett does have the added benefit of skating with the Panthers’ first powerplay unit, and he couldn’t ask for a better pair of running mates at 5v5 in Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk. The Panthers’ second line is dominating the competition at even strength, racking up an absurd 41 scoring chances and 19 high-danger chances per 60. Look for Bennett and company to keep things rolling in two favourable matchups this weekend.
Minnesota Wild–@ EDM (Fri), @ SEA (Sun)
Jared Spurgeon (D) – 32% owned
Given the relative lack of offensive upside at the defenseman position, we generally save this segment for forwards, but Spurgeon’s heavy usage of late, particularly on the power-play, makes him worthy of a mention, especially considering you may only be able to squeeze a blue-liner into your lineup for Sunday’s busy eight-game slate. Spurgeon has overtaken the quarterback role atop the Wild powerplay following the departure of Calen Addison, and that exposure to Minnesota’s premier forwards is finally starting to pay off. He’s registered an assist in four of his last five outings, with the last three coming with the man advantage. A lack of shot volume means you aren’t likely to get any goals out of Spurgeon this weekend, but he is a decent bet to add to your assist totals, particularly if your forward and utility spots are already filled for Sunday’s busier-than-usual slate.
Marco Rossi(C) – 13% owned
Rossi has reclaimed his role as Minnesota’s first-line centre over the last week and has the production to show for it. The ninth overall pick of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft has finally gotten an extended run in Minnesota’s top six, and the results suggest the move was long overdue. He’s been particularly hot lately, picking up two goals and two assists in his last four games. He has fit in seamlessly alongside Kirill Kaprizovand Mats Zuccarello on Minnesota’s top line, with the trio averaging over 28 scoring chances and 13 high-danger chances per 60. The only lineup hurdle Rossi has left to climb is the powerplay, with new coach John Hynes still giving preference to Joel Eriksson Ek over him, though that too may only be a matter of time. Rossi is worthy of a long-term addition in all formats so long as he’s skating on that high-powered first line and is undoubtedly one of the best streaming targets to go after this weekend.
Goaltenders
If you’re looking to steal your matchup with a spot start in goal on Sunday, there are three names you’ll want to keep an eye on as the weekend nears. The first is Charlie Lindgren (25% owned), who appeared to be challenging Darcy Kuemper for the Capitals’ starting job before suffering from an illness that forced the former to sit out a pair of games earlier in the week. Lindgren was healthy enough to get the nod on Thursday, and with the Capitals playing a pair of back-to-back games this weekend, one would expect the Capitals to turn back to Kuemper for Saturday’s game against the Rangers, given that Lindgren is coming off an illness. That would leave Lindgren with a dream matchup on the road in Chicago on Sunday, where the Capitals will be sizable favourites to pick up the win. The expected win combined with Lindgren’s consistent play makes him easily the top streaming target in goal on Sunday.
Should you miss Lindgren, Kevin Lankinen (1% owned) and Jiri Patera (1% owned) are available in nearly every league and make for tremendous consolation prizes. The Predators are in Toronto on Saturday before travelling to Montreal on Sunday, which should leave Lankinen with an excellent road matchup against the Habs. Lankinen is coming off one of his worst starts of the season, though he still boasts a respectable line on the year with a .901 SV% and a 3-2-0 record. He’s a great bet to pad your win totals this weekend and comes with little risk to your splits.
Patera is much more of an uncertainty, considering he is yet to make his season debut, though the 24-year-old netminder did perform well when given the chance last season, posting a perfect 2-0-0 record and a .929 SV% across two appearances. He’s been less impressive in the AHL this season, compiling a 6-6-2 record and a .900 SV% in 14 games for the Henderson Silver Knights, but most importantly, consider the matchup. As of now, Adin Hill is not expected to be ready to return from his lower-body injury this weekend, which should mean Logan Thompson will take on the Stars in Dallas on Saturday, leaving Patera to host the lowly Sharks on Sunday. His inexperience means he comes at a slightly higher risk to your splits, but Vegas will be huge favourites to win over the Sharks on Sunday, even with Patera in goal. If wins are what you’re after, and you’re not too concerned about the potential damage to your SV% or GAA, Patera might be the pick for you.