Fantasy Hockey: Weekly Strength of Schedule and Streaming Targets — Week 14

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 14 – Strength of Schedule

Week 14 Streaming Targets

Week 14 is a traditional week in the NHL, with Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday being the busiest days. That leaves Monday (4 games), Wednesday (4 games), Friday (3 games) and Sunday (3 games) as the best days to stream players. I’ve combined this week’s strength of schedule with the number of games on light days to highlight the best teams to target for streaming in Week 14.

SOS = Strength of Schedule Rank (1 good, 32 bad)
Light = No. of games on Lighter days (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun)
DR = Defensive Ranking (1st = Best Defensive Team, 32nd = Worst Defensive Team)

Winnipeg Jets (SOS: #2 | Light: 2)

Cole Perfetti (C/LW/RW) – 14% Rostered

Perfetti returned to the Jets; lineup last Friday and re-claimed his spot in the top-6, playing on a line with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler. Perfetti was held off of the scoresheet in both games, despite the Jets scoring a combined 11 goals. However, before getting hurt, Perfetti had 12 points (3G / 9A) and 36 shots (2.1 SOG/gm) in his previous 17 games. Perfetti-Scheifele-Wheeler have been an outstanding trio this season, averaging 3.11 xGF/60, 37.4 SCF/60, and 13.2 HDCF/60, so don’t expect them to stay quiet for too long. Matchups with the Red Wings (DR:25th), Sabres (DR:26th), Penguins (DR:11th), and Coyotes (DR:30th) should prove to be fruitful for the Jets this week.

Edmonton Oilers (SOS: #3 | Light: 3)

Kailer Yamamoto (RW) – 3% Rostered

Most recently, Yamamoto has found himself skating on the Oilers’ top-line with Connor McDavid. Yamamoto is no stranger to playing big minutes in Edmonton’s top-6 but the production hasn’t always followed. He’s got just three points (1G / 2A) in his last six games and seven points (3G / 4A) in his last 15 games. Still, as far as streaming options go, you should usually pick the ones playing with McDavid. The Oilers are on a California road trip this week, so they’ll face the Kings (DR:16th), Ducks (DR:32nd), Sharks (DR:24th), and Golden Knights (DR:1th).

Klim Kostin (LW/RW) – 3% Rostered

Kostin was the third member of that McDavid trio over the weekend but played just 8:37 TOI on Saturday. It remains to be seen if he’ll stick on McDavid’s wing, but he’d be a deep-league streamer if he is. Monitor the Oilers’ lines before Monday’s game in Los Angeles before adding Kostin. He has nine points (5G / 4A) in 25 games since joining the Oilers and is fifth on the team in 5v5 Points/60 (1.94), trailing only Evander Kane, McDavid, Zach Hyman, and Leon Draisaitl.

Nashville Predators (SOS: #4 | Light: 2)

Ryan Johansen (C) – 15% Rostered

The Predators have been spreading out their lineup recently and it’s led to decreased usage for Johansen. Still, he’s managed to pick up nine points (4G / 5A) in his last 17 games despite only playing 14:22 ATOI. He’s a pass-first player, so you won’t get a ton of shots out of Johansen, but he’s capable of chipping plenty of assists. He could also be a help on the power-play, as he centres the top unit, but the Predators sit 28th in PP% (18.0) on the season.

Nino Niederreiter (LW) – 15% Rostered

Niederreiter is the preferred Predators’ streaming target, as he’s seeing more ice time (15:57 ATOI) on the “third line” than Johansen. He’s also much more of a volume shooter, averaging 2.8 SOG/gm over the last 15 games. During that span, he’s scored three goals with seven assists (10 points). He’s built a nice rapport with Cody Glass, as the duo averaging 3.27 xGF/60, 32.3 SCF/60 and 17.1 HDCF/60.

Mikael Granlund (C/RW) – 11% Rostered

Granlund is another pass-first option that won’t shoot or score a lot. He’s goalless in his last 15 games while averaging less than one shot on goal per game (0.93). Still, he’s a deep-league streaming target thanks to his heavy usage (18:06 ATOI) and impressive assist totals (7A in his last 11 games). Granlund is on-pace for 45 assists this season.

Cody Glass (C/RW) – 1% Rostered

As previously mentioned, Glass and Niederreiter have commanded more minutes in Nashville and it’s led to increased production for Glass. In his last 12 games, the 23-year-old has tallied three goals and five assists (eight points). He’s played 14:45 ATOI during that time, a drastic increase from the 11:19 ATOI he saw in his first 16 games. The Predators’ power-play struggles limit their upside but Glass is one of the best deep-league streaming options this week.