Fantasy Hockey 2024-25: Weekly Strength of Schedule and Streaming Targets — Week 21

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 combined that weekly schedule 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.
SCORE: The sum of all the Defensive Ratings the team will face this week.
AVG Opponent: The Average Defensive Ratings that the team will face this week.
The strength of the Schedule is determined by the sum of defensive ratings because we want players who play the most games but also have the easiest matchups.
Light Nights: A night in the NHL with eight or fewer games.

Week 21 – Strength of Schedule

Week 21 Streaming Targets

Florida Panthers

The Panthers have by far the easiest schedule this week, with an average opponent rating of 70.0. However, they only have one light night game. Thankfully, the busy nights this week aren’t that busy, so you might be able to squeeze them into your lineup anyway. Check your lineup on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday to ensure you have room for some Florida Panthers.

Evan Rodrigues (C/LW – 4% Rostered)

With Matthew Tkachuk out and Brad Marchand not expected to make his Panthers’ debut this week, Rodrigues should remain in a prominent top-6 role with PP2 exposure. Since the 4Nations break, when he took over for Tkachuk in the top-6, Rodrigues has just two points (1G / 1A) but has fired 25 SOG (3.6 per game). If he continues that impressive shot volume, he’ll start to find the back of the net with more regularity. He’s shot just 4.0% during that stretch but has shot 10.6% this season.

Mackie Samoskevich (RW – 3% Rostered)

Similarly, Samoskevich has recently locked down a spot in the top-6 but is also skating on the top power-play unit, giving him a little more upside than Rodrigues. Since the break, Samoskevich has had three goals, one assist, and 16 SOG while averaging 15:27 TOI/gm in seven games.

Utah Hockey Club

If you can’t fit the Panthers in your lineup, you’ll have no issues with the Utah skaters. All four of their games are on light nights this week, and they have the second-easiest schedule.

Logan Cooley (C – 43% Rostered)

Cooley won’t be available in most competitive leagues, but he’s a great option if he’s available in your league. He continues to centre the top line with Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz and enters the week with 11 points (6G / 5A) while entering 19:23 TOI/gm in his last 14 games.

Nick Schmaltz (C/RW – 29% Rostered)

Schmaltz is lower-owned and may be a better option than Cooley. Schmaltz skates with Cooley at 5v5 but unlike Cooley, he’s on the top power-play unit. Since the 4Nations break, Schmaltz has eight points (3G / 5A), including four PPP in seven games.

Barrett Hayton (C – 13% Rostered)

Hayton has formed a great partnership with Dylan Guenther on Utah’s second line and has been great since the 4Nations break. In seven games, Hayton has tallied four goals, three assists (seven points) and 22 SOG (3.14 per game).

Lawson Crouse (LW/RW – 12% Rostered)

Crouse doesn’t bring a ton of offence to the table, but he’s a decent banger league option this week. Since the break, Crouse has just two goals in seven games but has averaged 3.0 hits and 2.3 SOG per game.

Detroit Red Wings

The Red Wings are spiraling right now. They’ve lost five consecutive games while averaging just 2.0 goals per game. But all four of their games are on light nights. I would much prefer Utah skaters this week, but if they’re unavailable, Detroit has some solid low-owned options.

Vladimir Tarasenko (LW/RW – 6% Rostered)

Tarasenko has had an underwhelming first season in Detroit, but has played some of his best hockey over the last month. He has just five points (2G / 3A) in his last 12 games, but he’s averaged 2.5 scoring chances per game during that time, so he’s been around the net and he’s a six-time 30-plus goal-scorer, so he knows how to finish.

Marco Kasper (C/LW – 6% Rostered)

Detroit could continue to shuffle their line combinations this week, but it seems like Kasper will play in a prominent role no matter what. He went from Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond’s wing to playing centre between Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane. He’s gone pointless in his last five games but had a 10-game stretch before that where he posted nine points (4G / 5A) and 2.4 SOG/gm, so there’s offensive upside this week.