Fantasy Hockey: Weekly Strength of Schedule and Streaming Targets — Week 24
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 24 – Strength of Schedule
Week 24 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)
Philadelphia Flyers (SOS: #1 | Light: 0.5)
Check your lineup to make sure you can fit the Flyers into your lineup this week before picking them up, because they play on the four busiest nights of the week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday), but they also have the easiest schedule of the week.
- Owen Tippett (LW/RW) – 20% Rostered
The Flyers have plenty of streaming targets, but Tippett is the cream of the crop. Tippett has developed into the Flyers’ go-to player, and he’s delivered. While playing an outrageous 21:00 ATOI, Tippett has picked up 10 points (6G / 4A) in his last 14 games. His usage combined with his elite shot volume (4.4 SOG/gm in his last 14) give him a safe floor as a streamer, and he’s already showcased his upside, scoring a hat-trick against Buffalo on March 17th and following that up with two assists vs. the Hurricanes the next night. In a make-or-break week, Tippett could be the difference.
Florida Panthers (SOS: #3 | Light: 2)
The good news is the Panthers have a few solid streaming targets, the bad news is they have been shuffling their lines a lot lately and that makes it difficult to nail down exactly who the best target is.
- Anthony Duclair (RW) – 12% Rostered
Duclair looks like the best target, as he most recently skated on the top line with Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. However, so did Carter Verhaeghe for part of Saturday’s game. Duclair’s value will be directly tied to his linemates. He’d be a great streamer if he continues to skate on that high-powered line but he will be hard-pressed to put together a meaningful week if he finds himself back on the third line. Monitor the Panthers’ lines during Monday’s morning skate before scooping Duclair up.
- Eetu Luostarinen (C/LW) – 6% Rostered
Luostarinen’s role seems a little more secure. He’s skated regularly in the top-6 for the last few weeks, seeing time on Barkov’s wing and also played centre on the second line with Tkachuk and Verhaeghe. He has quietly accumulated 17 points (6G / 11A) in 21 games since the All-Star break.
Buffalo Sabres (SOS: #16 | Light: 2)
The Sabres play Monday and Friday, so you’ll have no problem getting their skaters into your lineup for at least a couple of games this week. However, it might be better to target players who play Monday/Wednesday and drop them for players who play Friday/Sunday to maximize your games played this week, as long as you have enough adds to facilitate that play.
- Jack Quinn (LW/RW) – 7% Rostered / JJ Peterka (LW/RW) – 1% Rostered
Both Quinn and Peterka are decent streaming options this week, especially in deeper leagues. They skate on a quality second line in Buffalo with Dylan Cozens but the Sabres’ don’t utilize them as a true second line. Quinn and Peterka’s upside is undeniable, but their playing time often dictates their stat line. In the last month, we’ve seen them play as much as 16 minutes and as little as 11 minutes in a game, so there’s risk involved here. Still, Quinn has accumulated 14 points (6G / 8A) in his last 20 games, while Peterka has 10 points (2G / 8A) in his last 12 games.
- Victor Olofsson (RW) – 10% Rostered
Olofsson seems like the safer option of the group, playing consistently around 14 minutes per night. What separates Olofsson from Quinn and Peterka is his recent PP1 usage. It’s impossible to know if he’ll continue to see PP1 reps, but he’s replaced Dylan Cozens in that spot for the last few games. Olofsson has seven multi-goal games this season, so he has really nice upside for a streamer.
New York Islanders (SOS: #19 | Light: 2.5)
The Islanders are in that Monday/Wednesday crowd but also play Sunday, so they could be worth holding onto for the entire week.
- Kyle Palmieri (RW) – 4% Rostered
Palmieri has a very secure role in the Islanders’ offence. He’s skated on the second line with Brock Nelson almost exclusively this season and sees PP1 time as well. In his last few weeks, Palmieri has posted 10 points (4G / 6A) with 21 SOG while averaging 17:52 TOI/gm. If you’re in one of the 4% of leagues where Palmieri is already owned, Zach Parise (LW/RW – 8% Rostered), Pierre Engvall (LW/RW – 1%) and Jean-Gabriel Pageau (C – 20%) would be the next Islanders to look at.
Arizona Coyotes (SOS: #25 | Light: 2)
The Coyotes have two games on light nights this week, but they’re Monday/Friday, making them a little less appealing. Still, Barrett Hayton (C – 47%), Nick Schmaltz (C/RW – 46%), and Juuso Valimaki (D – 28%) should all be considered this week.
Colorado Avalanche (SOS: #29 | Light: 2)
The Avalanche are a part of the Monday/Wednesday crowd, so streaming them early in the week and dropping them mid-week seems like a smart play. JT Compher (C/RW – 53%) and Evan Rodrigues (C/LW/RW – 22%) are the two best options. Compher plays insane minutes and sees PP1 time. Rodrigues has seen time on the top line and has solid shot volume but hasn’t been the best finisher this season. A Monday meeting with the Ducks could provide some sparks from the Avalanche streamers.
Minnesota Wild (SOS: #31 | Light: 2)
The Wild are the final team with at least two games on light nights, but they have the second-hardest schedule of the week. Monday vs. Seattle and Wednesday in Colorado isn’t the best schedule for streaming. Ryan Hartman (C/RW – 41%) and Marcus Johansson (LW/RW – 3%) would be your best options if you have to get all the way down to the Wild.