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 best schedule this week.
How it Works:
- Team Defensive Ratings are given on a scale of 0-100, with 0 being the best possible defensive team and 100 being the worst. For context, CBJ currently grades as the worst defensively, with a rating of 92.16. Carolina is the best, with a rating of 12.46.
- SCORE: The sum of all of the Defensive Ratings that the team will face this week.
- AVG Opponent: The Average Defensive Ratings that the team will face this week.
- Strength of Schedule is determined by the sum of defensive ratings, because we want players that play the most games but also have the easiest matchups.
- Light Nights: A night in the NHL with eight or fewer games.
Week 18 – Strength of Schedule
Week 18 Opponent Ratings
Team Ratings are based solely on defensive metrics and goaltending quality in order to identify the best matchups for skaters. They are in no way a reflection of overall team quality. The lower the rating, the better the team is defensively = worse skater matchup.
Week 18 Streaming Targets
Easy Schedules
Ottawa Senators
The Senators have the easiest schedule of the week, with home games against the Blue Jackets and Ducks and a road game in Chicago. Check your lineup to make sure you can fit Senators in on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday because they don’t have ‘Light Night’ games this week.
Streaming Targets:
- Vladimir Tarasenko (LW/RW) – 49% Rostered
- Josh Norris (C) – 23% Rostered
- Shane Pinto (C) – 13% Rostered
Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks are on a Canadian road-trip this week, facing the Canadiens, Senators and Maple Leafs. They also don’t have any ‘Light Night’ games, so make sure you can squeeze them in this week.
Streaming Targets:
- Troy Terry (RW) – 45% Rostered
- Mason McTavish (C/LW) – 38% Rostered
- Adam Henrique (C/LW) – 32% Rostered
- Leo Carlsson (C) – 7% Rostered
- Ryan Strome (LW/RW) – 7% Rostered
New York Rangers
The Rangers have two home games vs. the Flames and Canadiens and finish the week against their cross-town rival (@ NYI). They’ll be easier to stream than the Senators and Ducks because they have two ‘Light Night’ games.
Streaming Targets:
- Alexis Lafrenière (LW/RW) – 33% Rostered
- Blake Wheeler (RW) – 9% Rostered
- Jonny Brodzinski (C) – 0% Rostered
Four Games
New Jersey Devils
The Devils are one of three teams with four games this week and the easiest average opponent rating (34.5) of them all. However, they have no ‘Light Night’ games, so plan ahead.
Streaming Targets:
- Dawson Mercer (C/RW) – 23% Rostered
- Erik Haula (LW) – 8% Rostered
- Ondrej Palat (LW) – 3% Rostered
Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes’ opponents aren’t super favourable (@PHI, MIN, CAR, @COL) but all four of their games are on ‘Light Nights’ so you’ll have no issues getting them into your lineup.
Streaming Targets:
- Nick Schmaltz (C/RW) – 25% Rostered
- Jason Zucker (LW) – 11% Rostered
- Matias Maccelli (LW) – 6% Rostered
- Dylan Guenther (LW) – 4% Rostered
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings have the toughest schedule of the teams with four games, as they have a tough east-coast road-trip. They have one ‘Light Night’ game but plenty of quality streaming options.
Streaming Targets:
- Viktor Arvidsson (LW/RW) – 40% Rostered
- Quinton Byfield (C/LW) – 39% Rostered
- Pierre-Luc Dubois (C/LW) – 36% Rostered
- Phillip Danault (C) – 21% Rostered