Fantasy Hockey: Weekly Strength of Schedule and Streaming Targets — Week 18
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 18 – Strength of Schedule
Week 18 Streaming Targets
- 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)
Toronto Maple Leafs (SOS: #1 | Light: 2)
The Maple Leafs only have three games this week (two on light nights), but they have the easiest schedule, facing Chicago (DR: 29) twice and Montreal (DR: 31) once.
Michael Bunting (LW – 66% Rostered)
Bunting isn’t widely available, but given the Maple Leafs’ schedule this week, he’s one of the best streaming options in the league. With Auston Matthews sidelined, he’s skating on the top line with John Tavares and Mitch Marner and has been bumped up to the top power-play unit. Since the Matthews injury, Bunting has two goals and two assists (four points) and 14 shots (2.8 SOG/gm) in five games.
Calle Jarnkrok (C/LW/RW – 8% Rostered)
Jarnkrok is the only low-owned Maple Leafs’ forward that is worth streaming in deeper leagues. Since Christmas, he’s picked up 15 points (6G / 9A) in 20 games while playing primarily on the second line and second power-play unit (14:48 ATOI). With Matthews out and Tavares on the top line, the second line is less desirable, but Jarnkrok is still an OK deep-league target.
Los Angeles Kings (SOS: #3 | Light: 2)
The Kings have three games this week, two on lighter days, and will face the Sabres (DR: 21), Ducks (DR: 32), and Coyotes (DR: 25).
Phillip Danault (C – 29% Rostered)
Trevor Moore returned to the lineup on Saturday, reuniting the Kings’ second line. They’ve once again been strong this season, averaging 3.03 xGF/60. Danault has been quiet as of late, with just two points in his last six games. However, since the middle of December, he has 16 points (7G / 9A) in his last 21 games.
Viktor Arvidsson (LW/RW – 19% Rostered)
Arvidsson has one goal and no assists in his last nine games. His shot volume has also come down (2.2 SOG/gm), but he continues to play 18:00 ATOI and sees PP2 time, so he could be a worthwhile target given the Kings’ third-easiest schedule.
Trevor Moore (LW/RW – 11% Rostered)
Moore was back on the second line and second power-play unit on Saturday, his first game since before Christmas. He failed to get on the scoresheet but had two shots in 15:21 TOI. Moore has been goalless with just one assist in his last 10 games but has terrific shot volume (3.1 SOG/gm) that makes him an intriguing streaming target.
Quinton Byfield (C – 2% Rostered)
Byfield is skating on the top line with Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe, as well as the top power-play unit. He’s picked up two goals and four assists (six points) with 21 shots (2.1 SOG/gm) in his last 10 games. He’s an outstanding streamer in deep leagues, given his position in the Kings’ lineup.
Arizona Coyotes (SOS: #4 | Light: 3)
The Coyotes are essentially a one-line team, but luckily that entire line is available on the waiver wire (in some capacity). They have the fourth-easiest schedule of the week, playing Nashville (DR: 22), Tampa (DR: 13), Los Angeles (DR: 16), and Columbus (DR: 27). Of those four games, three are on lighter nights, so it will be easy to get the Coyotes into your lineup.
Clayton Keller (LW/RW – 69% Rostered)
Keller was outstanding last week, picking up seven points (3G / 4A) in three games. On the season, he’s near a point-per-game, scoring 21 goals and 27 assists (48 points) in 53 games. The Keller-Hayton-Schmaltz line has been outstanding this season, averaging 3.03 xGF/60, so they should be able to continue their hot run this week.
Nick Schmaltz (C/RW – 27% Rostered)
Like Keller, Schmaltz was outstanding last week, posting six points (2G / 4A) in three games. Schmaltz has been especially hot in the last couple of weeks, with 13 points (6G / 7A) in his last seven games. The 26-year-old is also near a point-per-game, picking up 34 points (13G / 21A) in 37 games.
Barrett Hayton (C – 5% Rostered)
Unsurprisingly, Hayton’s offensive game has picked up since being promoted between Keller and Schmaltz. In his last 20 games, Hayton has scored six goals with nine assists (15 points) while averaging 2.6 SOG/gm. He would be third in the pecking order on the Coyotes but may be your only option in deeper leagues.
Ottawa Senators (SOS: #5 | Light: 3)
The Senators don’t have many streaming options, but they do have the fifth-easiest schedule and three games on light days.
Ridly Greig (C – 2% Rostered)
The Senators top players are all highly owned, so their only streaming targets are for deeper leagues. Greig made his NHL debut in late January, and he’s picked up three assists and 11 shots while averaging 14:26 ATOI in his first five career NHL games. He’s expected to continue centring the Senators second line next to Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux, so he’s in a good spot to get on the scoresheet this week.
Mathieu Joseph (LW/RW – 1% Rostered)
Joseph was recently promoted to the top line and is on a three-game point streak, posting one goal and three assists (four points). His usage hasn’t increased drastically (14:08 ATOI), and he isn’t seeing any PP time, so he’s only an option in the deepest of leagues.
Minnesota Wild (SOS: #10 | Light: 4)
The Wild’s schedule grades out as the 10th-best this week, but all four games are on light days.
Ryan Hartman (C/RW – 26% Rostered)
Hartman was recently reunited with Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello and scored a goal on Saturday. It was his first goal since January 7th, but his spot in the lineup can’t get any better. Given he has four games on light days, you can insert Hartman right into your lineup for four games, and count on good usage, shot volume and hopefully, production. The Kaprizov-Hartman-Zuccarello trio has averaged 2.9 xGF/60 so far this season.