Fantasy Hockey: Weekend Streaming Targets – Week 4
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, we break down the teams and skaters with the most streamer-friendly schedules over the weekend.
This weekend features six games on Friday, 11 on Saturday, and seven on Sunday. There are six teams playing on both Friday and Sunday this weekend, so let’s get into it. Happy streaming!
Calgary Flames–vs. NJD (Fri), vs. EDM (Sun)
The Flames tend to use a very balanced deployment of their top-nine forwards, which helps make their ‘third’ line a viable option this weekend. Jonathan Huberdeau (37% owned), Andrei Kuzmenko (35% owned), and Yegor Sharangovich (31% owned) all skate together on that third line as well as on Calgary’s top power-play unit. While they’ve gotten off to a quiet start since Sharangovich returned from injury, they did have plenty of success together last season. In just over 100 minutes together at 5v5, the trio averaged 2.64 expected goals and over 31 scoring chances per 60. They are each seeing over 17 minutes a night and are a good bet to find the scoresheet this weekend.
Minnesota Wild–vs. TBL (Fri), vs. TOR (Sun)
There is one name worth monitoring on Minnesota this weekend and that’s Marco Rossi (11% owned). While he is limited to a spot on the second power-play unit, his 5v5 utilization offers plenty of upside. Rossi is enjoying a ton of success centering Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello. Their line averages 31 scoring chances and 12 high-danger chances per 60. Rossi’s fantasy upside is limited by a lack of shot volume and power-play one time, but he is making the most of his elite exposure at 5v5. Rossi is up to three goals and five assists through his first nine games and could finally be in the midst of a breakout season if he’s able to build on this hot start.
New York Islanders–@ BUF (Fri), @ NYR (Sun)
Kyle Palmieri (20% owned) is no stranger to this streaming series and for good reason. Palmieri offers a floor much higher than most streaming targets thanks to strong shot volume and great usage at 5v5 as well as on the power-play. He is heavily-featured on the Isles’ top power-play unit and is stapled to the hip of Brock Nelson at 5v5. Palmieri is up to four goals, three assists, and 27 shots on goal through his first ten games of the season.
The third member of that Nelson line, Maxim Tsyplakov (3% owned), is worth some consideration in deeper/banger leagues. An upper-body injury to Mathew Barzal has freed up a spot on the top power-play unit for Tsyplakov this weekend. The 26-year-old Russian rookie has a goal, four assists, and 25 hits through his first 10 NHL games.
New York Rangers–vs. OTT (Fri), vs. NYI (Sun)
As you might expect, there are not a lot of quality options available to us here that aren’t already rostered in the majority of leagues, but I do think in deeper formats you can take a chance on Reilly Smith (6% owned). Smith is playing just over 15 minutes a night. His upside is capped by a lack of shot volume and his power-play role being limited to the second unit, but he does get the benefit of skating with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad at 5v5.
If you’re really short on options, you can also roll the dice on a piece of the Rangers third line of Will Cuylle (16% owned), Filip Chytil (4% owned), and Kaapo Kakko (3% owned). Chytil offers the best shot volume and is the most attractive options in standard formats, while Cuylle makes a lot more sense in banger leagues.
Tampa Bay Lightning–@ MIN (Fri), @ WPG (Sun)
Nick Paul and Anthony Cirelli (both 19% owned) headline the viable options outside of the heavily-rostered pieces in Tampa Bay. They are both off to tremendous starts to the season, although neither will be able to continue producing at this rate considering their usage. Cirelli is up to two goals and ten assists through ten games, while Paul has racked up three goals and six assists. Both see some time on the second power-play unit but Cirelli at least gets some exposure to Brandon Hagel on the second line at 5v5. Paul on the other hand is tasked with centering line three.
Winnipeg Jets–@ CBJ (Fri), vs. TBL (Sun)
Cole Perfetti has seen his ownership skyrocket lately to 40%, but I’m actually more interested in Gabe Vilardi (24% owned). Vilardi is seeing ideal utilization, skating on the Jets’ top line and power-play unit. Even when Winnipeg shuffled their lines mid-game earlier this week and moved Nikolaj Ehlers up to the Mark Scheifele line, it was Kyle Connor that dropped down the lineup, suggesting Vilardi’s elite usage is very secure in the short-term.
After a slow start to the campaign, Vilardi is now up to three goals and five assists through 10 games while playing over 18 and a half minutes a night. He’s racked up five points and 10 shots on goal in his last four games, including back-to-back multi-point efforts. Look for Vilardi to stay hot against the Blue Jackets and Lightning this weekend.