Fantasy Hockey: Weekly Strength of Schedule and Streaming Targets — Week 2
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 2 – Strength of Schedule
Week 2 Streaming Targets
- SOS = Strength of Schedule Rank (1 good, 32 bad)
- Light = No. of games on Lighter days (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun)
Calgary Flames (SOS: #1 | Light: 3)
Andrew Mangiapane (LW/RW) – 44% Owned
The Flames have shuffled their lines around in the first two games. Mangiapane skated with Backlund/Coleman in Game 1 and Lindholm/Huberdeau in Game 2. He’s picked up points in both games, tallying two goals, two assists, three shots and one PPP so far. Even if he ends up back with Backlund/Coleman on Monday, that’s a trio that has had a ton of 5v5 success together (4.08 xGF/60). Mangiapane comes into the week second on the Flames with 1.24 xG through two games. They are on the road all week, but the Flames have really strong matchups (WSH, BUF, CBJ & DET).
Matt Coronato (RW) – 6% Owned
Coronato was the No.13 overall pick in 2021 and has made an instant impact at the NHL level after leaving Harvard University last season. In three career games, he has one goal and eight shots on goal. Like Mangiapane, Coronato has moved around the lineup in the first two games, but one thing has remained constant: he’s been on the top PP unit in both games. Coronato is a great shooter who will get lots of rubber on net this week and will be a threat to score every night. He is third on the team in xG (0.85) through two games.
Detroit Red Wings (SOS: #2 | Light: 3)
Lucas Raymond (LW/RW) – 41% Owned
Raymond is looking to bounce back from a disappointing sophomore season, and so far, so good. Raymond played with Larkin and DeBrincat on Saturday, and the trio had an absolutely dominant performance. If they continue that level of play, Raymond will be in for a big year. He’s an add beyond this week. So far, Raymond has one goal on six shots in two games.
J.T. Compher (LW/RW) – 29% Owned
Compher will likely be a less impactful add than Raymond, but he has had a nice start to his Red Wings career. Compher has one goal and two assists (three points) through two games. The best thing for Compher is his usage. The veteran centre has averaged over 20 minutes (20:30 ATOI) per game, giving him plenty of time to rack up counting stats in various categories.
Daniel Sprong (RW) – 6% Owned
Sprong is a low-floor/high-ceiling stream this week. Sprong has scored a goal in each of his first two games with the Red Wings while firing eight shots on goal. His usage isn’t great (14:09), but it’s the most ice-time he’s seen in his career. He’s a shot-first player with an electric release, making him a goal-scoring threat on a nightly basis. Sprong is second on the Red Wings in xG (1.01) so far. He’s the best deep-league target this week.
Arizona Coyotes (SOS: #3 | Light: 1)
Logan Cooley (C) – 44% Owned
Cooley would be the favourite to win the Calder Trophy this season if Connor Bedard wasn’t around. The 2022 No.3 overall pick had a terrific NHL debut, picking up two power-play assists and two shots in 19:02. Cooley is on the Coyotes’ second line and top power-play unit and should be a factor all season. He’s an add that will go beyond week 1.
Nick Schmaltz (C/RW) – 33% Owned
Schmaltz and the Coyotes’ top line picked up right where they left off at the end of last season. Schmaltz had one goal, one assist and two shots in 21:27 ATOI in their season opener. The usage should remain elite and he comes in with 39 points (16G / 23A) in his last 34 regular season games. You can’t find production like that on the waiver wire very often.
Barrett Hayton (C) – 15% Owned
Hayton was one of my favourite late-round sleepers during the draft and remains widely available on the waiver wire. He played 20:48 TOI in the season debut but failed to record a point with four shots on goal (seven shot attempts). In his final 35 games last season, Hayton had 14 goals and 15 assists (29 points) while averaging 2.7 shots per game. If he continues to play on the top line with Schmaltz and Keller and on the top power-play unit, Hayton should be rostered.