Fantasy Hockey: Weekly Strength of Schedule and Streaming Targets — Week 11
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 11 – Strength of Schedule
Week 11 Streaming Targets
Week 11 is a short week in Fantasy Hockey, with the week just running five days. Each day has at least seven games, so targeting players with the easiest schedule is the best way to stream this week.
Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights have the easiest schedule this week, facing the Sabres, Coyotes and Blues, who combine for an average defensive ranking of 27th/32.
Reilly Smith (LW/RW) – 53% Rostered
Smith is coming off an incredible week, posting multiple points in all three games, finishing with four goals, two assists (six points), and 11 shots on goal. The Golden Knights’s second line has been red-hot as of late, making him one of the best streaming targets this week.
William Karlsson (C/LW) – 31% Rostered
Karlsson wasn’t quite as productive as Smith and Jonathan Marchessault, but he still picked up four points (1G / 3A) in three games last week. Dating back to the middle of November, he has nine points (3G / 6A) in his previous 13 games. He’ll continue to play big minutes, especially with Jack Eichel still sidelined, and that may be enough with their easy schedule this week.
Phil Kessel (RW) – 5% Rostered
Don’t waste a pickup on Kessel unless he remains on the top line with Chandler Stephenson and Mark Stone. He moved up on Saturday with Eichel and Paul Cotter out. If he’s still in the top-6 on Monday, he’s a solid streaming target in deep leagues. He had four shots in 12:25 TOI on Saturday but has just five points (3G / 2A) in his last 12 games while averaging just 1.9 SOG/gm.
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings have the second easiest schedule this week, taking on the Ducks, Flames and Coyotes. Anaheim and Arizona rank as the worst and second-worst defensive teams in the NHL.
Adrian Kempe (C/LW/RW) – 59% Rostered
Kempe has started to hit the waiver wire, as he’s now available in 41 percent of leagues, putting him in the streaming range. He was being dumped because he was skating on the third line but was moved back to the top line with Anze Kopitar and Kevin Fiala. Kempe enters the week with nine points (5G / 4A) and 30 shots (2.3 SOG/gm) in his last 13 games.
Trevor Moore (LW/RW) – 24% Rostered
Moore has failed to record a point in his last six games, but his usage (17:39 ATOI) and 3.7 SOG/gm are good signs, especially with this schedule. The Kings’ second line continues to produce scoring chances at an impressive rate (34.2 SCF/60), so don’t worry about his recent lack of production.
Viktor Arvidsson (LW/RW) – 21% Rostered
Arvidsson returned to the Kings lineup on Saturday and had just one shout in 17:06 TOI. Since being held pointless in his first five games of the season, Arvidsson has 22 points (8G / 14A) and 60 shots (2.4 SOG/gm) in his last 25 games. He was on the third line on the weekend but could find himself back with Phillip Danault and Moore in quick order.
Dallas Stars
The Stars have the third-easiest schedule this week, playing the Blue Jackets, Oilers and Canadiens, who are all in the bottom third of the league defensively. Their average defensive ranking is 26th/32.
Mason Marchment (LW/RW) – 31% Rostered
Marchment has been a fixture in the Stars’ middle-6 all season and starts the week with 11 points (5G / 6A) in his last 17 games. Marchment’s shot volume has been strong over that stretch, firing 2.5 SOG/gm. The Stars are basically a one-line team, but Marchment is the best secondary option if Jamie Benn (79%) and Tyler Seguin (57%) aren’t available.
Calgary Flames
The Flames were the top streaming target last week, and they came through in a big way. They are near the top of the list again this week, thanks to the fourth-easiest schedule as they travel through California to face the Sharks, Kings and Ducks.
Andrew Mangiapane (LW/RW) – 37% Rostered
Mangiapane had just one goal last week but is skating on a line with Nazem Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau and comes in with seven points (4G / 3A) in his previous 11 games. The new-look second line has yet to have the best results (1.62 xGF/60), but they draw some excellent matchups this week.
Dillon Dube (LW/RW) – 13% Rostered
Dube is the better streaming target since he’s taking on the top line with Elias Lindholm and Tyler Toffoli. He had a great week, picking up one goal, four assists and seven shots in his last three games. The early returns (3.87 xGF/60) have been excellent for Dube-Lindholm-Toffoli. Right the hot hand.