Fantasy Hockey: Weekly Strength of Schedule and Streaming Targets — Week 8
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 8 – Strength of Schedule
Week 8 Streaming Targets
Buffalo Sabres
Overall, the Sabres’ schedule isn’t the friendliest (16th), but they have three games on lighter days (Monday, Wednesday and Sunday), and they will face the Lightning (16th easiest), Red Wings (23rd) and Sharks (14th) in those matchups, so it’s not exactly a gauntlet.
Victor Olofsson (RW – 17% Rostered)
Olofsson has a shoot-first mentality, which makes him an excellent streaming target. He had a six-game drought in early November but is starting to heat back up, scoring two goals with one assist and 10 shots on goal in his last four games. On the year, he has 11 goals, which is tied for 17th in the NHL. He’s streaky and often scores goals in bunches; hopefully, this week is one of those bunches.
Dylan Cozens (C – 12% Rostered)
Cozens is the best streaming option from the Sabres. He plays a healthy amount of minutes (17:07 ATOI) and was recently promoted to the top power-play unit. Cozens has been pretty consistent this season, picking up points in 13 of his 21 games (61.9%) and having 15 points (5G / 10A) total.
Casey Mittelstadt (C – 6% Rostered)
Mittelstadt’s usage is slightly more sporadic than Cozen’s, but he typically plays around 16:00 TOI and will see PP2 usage. Mittelstadt has scored four goals with two assists (six points) in his last 10 games and has 13 points (5G / 8A) in 21 games on the season. He doesn’t have the same upside as the names above him, but he’s more likely to be available in deeper leagues.
Jack Quinn (LW/RW – 5% Rostered)
Quinn was a favourite last-round target of mine during the pre-season, but it has taken him some time to get a foothold in the Sabres’ lineup. However, he’s been in the lineup regularly in the last four games, picking up two goals and two assists in that span. Since opening the season pointless through four games, Quinn has tallied nine points (3G / 6A) in his last 12 games while averaging 2.2 shots per game.
Columbus Blue Jackets
This week, all of the Blue Jackets games are on light days (Monday, Friday, and Sunday) but have the fourth most difficult schedule overall. Their matchups with the Golden Knights (5th most difficult), Jets (15th) and Red Wings (10th) could make things difficult for their streaming targets.
Kent Johnson (LW/RW – 6% Rostered)
Johnson was a very highly-touted prospect coming out of the University of Michigan, and Columbus selected him No.5 overall in 2021. After picking up just four assists in his first 12 career NHL games, Johnson has 10 points (5G / 5A) in his last 14 games. Injuries to Jakub Voracek and Patrik Laine have forced Johnson into a top-6 and PP1 time, and he’s performed very well, with five points (2G / 3A) in his last six games. He’s probably not going to score you many goals, but he could be a solid source of assists and power-play points this week.
Gustav Nyquist (LW/RW – 3% Rostered)
Other players have had better production recently, but Nyquist is in the best position to succeed, skating on the top line with Johnny Gaudreau and Boone Jenner. He’s also on the second power-play unit but has yet to pick up a PPP this season. He has only eight points (3G / 5A) in 20 games.
Yegor Chinakhov (LW/RW – 1% Rostered)
The previously mentioned injuries have led to more playing time for Chinakhov as well, and he’s made the most of it, scoring two goals with three assists (five points) in his last six games. His shot volume has also been solid over that time, firing 2.2 SOG/gm while skating in the top-6 and on PP2.
Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings have the ninth-easiest schedule this week, including three games on light days (Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday). In those contests, they will meet the Maple Leafs (9th most difficult), Sabres (20th), and Blue Jackets (28th). So while they may be the most intriguing team to target, they have minimal available streaming options.
Andrew Copp (C/RW – 17% Rostered)
Copp is the only one that sticks out as a great target. He had a slow start to his Red Wings’ tenure after missing the entire pre-season due to offseason core muscle surgery. He had just two assists in his first eight games but has picked up nine points (2G / 7A) in his last 12 games. In addition, he’s playing big minutes with talented linemates (Lucas Raymond and Tyler Bertuzzi), making Copp one of the best streaming options of Week 8.
Jonatan Berggren (LW/RW – 1% Rostered)
Berggren has been limited to a bottom-6 role, averaging just 12:24 TOI/gm. However, he’s been very productive, scoring one goal with four assists (five points) in his first seven games. Nevertheless, he’s only a target in the deepest of leagues with shallow free-agent pools.
New York Rangers
The Rangers rank right behind the Red Wings with the 10th easiest schedule of the week, and it includes three games on light days. Their week starts with a tough matchup vs. the Devils (most difficult), but gets easier in Ottawa (22nd) on Wednesday and hosting the Senators on Friday.
Filip Chytil (C/RW – 9% Rostered)
There are some rumblings that Chitin may be moved up the lineup to centre the Artemi Panarin line on Monday. Chytil has been able to register 10 points (4G / 6A) in 16 games despite playing just 13:52 ATOI. A move into the top-6, particularly next to Panarin, should lead to good results for the 23-year-old centre.
Kaapo Kakko (RW – 5% Rostered)
Kakko is expected to move up with Chytil to be the third member of the second line. Kakko’s production hasn’t been great, picking up just eight points (4G / 4A) in 22 games, but his shot production has been solid as of late, firing 2.4 shots per game in his last seven games. He’s played plenty with Chytil, and potentially adding Panarin to that line could spark Kakko.
Jimmy Vesey (LW/RW – 1% Rostered)
The line shuffling means that Vesey will move back to the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. He played well there previously, picking up five points (1G / 4A) in his last eight games. He’s a solid deep-league target if your options are few and far between.