Fantasy Hockey: Weekly Strength of Schedule and Streaming Targets — Week 7
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 7 – Strength of Schedule
Week 7 – Streaming Targets
Because of American Thanksgiving, the NHL schedule is very weird this week. It is revered from your typical schedule, with Monday, Wednesday, and Friday being the busiest days of the week. The only days you’ll be able to fit streamers into your lineup are likely Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday. Only one team has games on three of those four days (Vancouver Canucks). However, they also have the fifth-most difficult schedule of the week. It’s a very difficult week to identify week-long streamers, but let’s look at the best options. *in order of Yahoo! Roster %*
Jean-Gabriel Pageau (NYI – C) – 15% Rostered
The Islanders have the week’s easiest schedule and two games on lighter days (MON + SAT), so Pageau looks like a solid streaming option for Week 7. Pageau has been heating up as of late, scoring three goals with six assists (nine points) in his last 13 games. Pageau is also among the Islanders’ leaders in TOI (17:54 ATOI) and sees time on the top power-play unit.
Owen Tippett (PHI – LW/RW) – 13% Rostered
Tippett is a streaming option with staying power on your team, as he’s been on fire through the first month and a half of the season. The former Florida Panther has 10 points (6G / 4A) and 38 shots on goal in his last 12 games. He’s become a fixture in the Flyers’ top-6 lately, averting 19:14 TOI/gm in his last six games. The Flyers have games on Monday and Saturday, so you’ll be able to play him twice at the very least, but the dual-wing eligibility could allow you to sneak him in more.
Erik Haula (NJD – C/LW) – 12% Rostered
Before Saturday, Haula had the fourth-most shots on goal without scoring a goal (39). He finally tallied his first of the season (on four shots), giving him seven points (1G / 6A) in his last 13 games. Haula is currently skating on a line with Jack Hughes, making him a very intriguing streaming option. His shot volume has fallen off since the beginning of the season, but he’s still getting pucks to the net and playing with Hughes increases his chances of getting on the scoresheet this week. Fabian Zetterlund (2% Rostered) is another streaming target from the Devils, as he continues to play with Nico Hischier. Zetterlund has six points (2G / 4A) and 14 SOG in his last seven games. His usage has been a bit more erratic, but the Devils have the ninth-easiest schedule and two games on lighter days (MON + SAT).
Evan Rodrigues (COL – C/LW/RW) – 10% Rostered
Despite absolutely elite usage and triple position eligibility, Rodrigues remains just 10 percent rostered. Being a C, LW, and RW may help you get him into your lineup even on the busiest of days. Colorado have the eighth-easiest schedule and play four games this week, two of which are on lighter days (MON + SAT). Rodrigues, who has eight points (6G / 2A), 34 shots (2.8 SOG/gm) and 19:32 ATOI in his last 12 games, continues to skate on the second line and top power-play unit in Colorado.
Juuso Parssinen (NSH – C) – 7% Rostered
Parssinen was a seventh-round pick in 2019 but has made an immediate splash in North America. The Finnish centre had nine points (2G / 7A) in his first 10 AHL games before being promoted to the NHL. The Predators didn’t waste any time putting him in a prominent role, as he centred the top line with Filip Forsberg and Mikael Granlund in his first game, and every game since. Parssinen is also on the top power-play unit and has scored three goals with two assists (five points) in his first four games. His 50.0 SH% and 17.9 on-ice SH% aren’t going to continue, but as long as he’s on the top line and top power-play unit, Parssinen is a nice fantasy target. Nashville has the fifth-easiest schedule this week and two games on lighter days (MON + SAT).
Adam Ruzicka (CGY – C) – 5% Rostered
It’s surprising that Ruzicka’s roster percentage isn’t higher, given how great he’s been over the last two weeks. Ruzicka was promoted to the top line when Jonathan Huberdeau got hurt and has remained there upon his return. The reason why is that Ruzicka has scored four goals with four assists (eight points) in six games. Ruzicka and Elias Lindholm have averaged 4.14 xGF/60 and 15.3 HDCF/60, so expect the results to continue. They start the week with a great matchup in Philadelphia.
Kevin Labanc (SJS – LW/RW) – 1% Rostered
Labanc has been productive since being promoted to the Sharks’ top line, scoring two goals with five assists (seven points) while firing 18 shots (2.6 SOG/gm) in his last seven games. The Sharks have two games on lighter days (MON + SUN) this week against the Senators and Canucks, who have given up the seventh and third-most goals against per game this season.
Jimmy Vesey (NYR – LW/RW) – 1% Rostered
Vesey may be worth streaming in the deepest of leagues. The Rangers have the fourth-easiest schedule on the week and have two games on lighter nights (TUE + SAT). Vesey has been skating on the Rangers’ top line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider and enters the week having scored two goals with three assists (five points) in his last eight games. Another great note is his 20 shots on goal over that span, averaging a rock-solid 2.5 SOG per game.
Derick Brassard (OTT – C/LW) – 0% Rostered
Brassard is another player you can look at in the deepest of leagues. He’s centring the Senators’ second line with Alex DeBrincat and Claude Giroux as the Senators head out west to face the three Californian teams that have given up their fair share of goals this season. In his last seven games, Brassard has just two points (1G / 1A), but his 20 shots on goal (2.9 SOG/gm) is a great sign for a player who is in a great spot to produce.