Fantasy Hockey: Weekend Streaming Targets – Week 21
Our Weekend Streamers series aims to help you steal your matchup by getting the most value possible out of the limited transactions in your fantasy league. Every Friday morning, we will break down the teams and skaters with the most streamer-friendly schedules over the weekend. We will also look at the best spot starts in goal each weekend, highlighting the widely-available goaltenders that could provide the boost and edge you need to win your matchup.
This weekend features four games on Friday, 13 on Saturday, and five on Sunday, so as per usual, we are going to target the skaters playing on those two quieter nights. We have three teams to dig through this week, so let’s get into it. Happy streaming!
Anaheim Ducks–vs. DAL (Fri), vs. NYI (Sun)
Alex Killorn (LW/RW) – 19% owned
Thanks to the departure of Adam Henrique and then injuries to Leo Carlsson, Troy Terry, and Mason McTavish, there are plenty of top-six minutes to go around in Anaheim this weekend, and Killorn should be the main benefactor of that. His usage had already been on the rise of late and he saw over 20 minutes of ice-time in Wednesday’s win over the Senators. He has four goals, one assist, and 17 shots on goal in his last seven games and will be a staple of the Ducks’ offense at 5v5 and on the power-play this weekend. The matchup spread is not great, but you are not going to be able to stream this kind of usage off the wire too often. Killorn is as good of a streaming target as anyone this weekend.
Ryan Strome (LW/RW) – 8% owned
Strome is in a very similar boat to Killorn, and while he may not offer as much goal-scoring upside, he is a great bet to add to your assist totals this weekend. Strome came through with two assists when the Ducks were featured on our streaming segment last weekend, and like Killorn, is set to see an increased role. He picked up a goal on Wednesday night and played just under 20 minutes while skating alongside Frank Vatrano on the team’s first line and power-play unit. Strome will have every opportunity to continue his strong run of form that has seen him rack up four goals and six assists in his last 12 games.
Arizona Coyotes–vs. DET (Fri), @ CHI (Sun)
Nick Schmaltz (C/RW) 30% owned
Schmaltz delivered with a pair of two-point performances after being featured as one of our top streaming targets last weekend. Hopefully you benefited from that and held onto him throughout the week, because his ownership is up over 10% since last Friday. He is up to four goals and four assists in his last seven games and was reunited with his regular line-mate, Clayton Keller, on Thursday. With another pair of enticing matchups against the Red Wings and Blackhawks on deck, do not be afraid to stay in the flames and ride Schmaltz’s hot hand this weekend.
Matias Maccelli (LW) 14% owned
Like Schmaltz, Maccelli came through in a big way last weekend and his ownership is up as a result, but he still remains available in over 85% of leagues. Unlike Schmaltz, Keller’s return to the lineup hinders Maccelli’s upside. His ice-time has taken a hit and he has inexplicably lost his spot on the team’s first power-play unit. One of the most underrated playmakers in the league, Maccelli is still more than capable of padding your assist totals this weekend, but he does not appear to have the same upside he offered us last weekend when he tallied four points against the Senators and Capitals.
Minnesota Wild–@ COL (Fri), vs. NSH (Sun)
The Wild are opting for a top-heavy approach to their forward lines which isn’t leaving us with plenty of quality of options on the wire. The name I like the most outside of the top line of Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Matt Boldy is Marco Rossi (C – 6% owned). He is centering the Wild’s second line at 5v5 and is the driving force behind the team’s second power-play unit. He is pointless in his last seven, so this is certainly a target for deeper leagues, but his shot production has been through the roof of late. With 21 shots in his last six games, look for Rossi to breakthrough on the scoresheet sooner than later.
Ryan Hartman (C/RW – 22% owned) is an option as well, though he is also limited to a role on the second line and power-play unit. It is hard to imagine him adding more than a single point to your totals this weekend given his shot volume of late and his current role, so I would be sure to check on the availability of all the options outlined above before you move for Hartman.
Goaltenders
With five games on the docket for Sunday, there are a handful of teams rocking the Saturday/Sunday back-to-back this weekend, but there appears to be just two backup goaltenders that could draw a premium matchup on Sunday.
Calvin Pickard – 20% owned
Pickard looks to be set up with another favourable matchup again this weekend and once again, it is against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pickard was just minutes away from a shutout on Sunday against the Pens but locked up the easy win, allowing just one goal on 23 shots enroute to the 6-1 victory. Pickard got the nod in Columbus on Thursday as well, which almost certainly lines up starter Stuart Skinner to take on the Sabres on Saturday, setting Pickard up for yet another Sunday showdown with the Penguins. The Oilers will be heavy favourites to pick up the victory, especially as these two rosters continue to head in different directions ahead of Friday’s trade deadline.
Kevin Lankinen – 1% owned
Lankinen is the other name you need to keep an eye on this weekend. He has consistently delivered in some favourable matchups this season, picking up eight wins in his 12 starts, and could be set up for another one on Sunday afternoon in Minnesota. He last appeared in Anaheim on February 25th when he allowed just two goals on 31 shots in a 4-2 victory. The Preds are hot right now and I like their odds of picking up the win in Minnesota, but they do play an afternoon game on Saturday, so just make sure Juuse Saros gets confirmed for that one before you move to pick up Lankinen for Sunday.