Fantasy Hockey: Weekly Strength of Schedule and Streaming Targets — Week 10

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 10 – Strength of Schedule

Week 10 Streaming Targets

After a balanced week for the NHL schedule, where each day had at least five games but no more than 10 games, we’re back to an unbalanced schedule this week. As is normal most weeks, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday are the busiest days on the schedule. We’re looking to stream players with games on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

Calgary Flames

The Flames have the PERFECT streaming schedule. Not only do they have the easiest schedule of the week, but all four of their games are on the lighter days (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday). They don’t have many great streaming targets but they are the top target this week.

Andrew Mangiapane (LW/RW) – 35% Rostered

Mangiapane is the top streaming option of the week, and comes in with 13 points (6G / 7A) in 28 games. After breaking out for 35 goals a season ago, Mangiapane’s shot volume and SH% have both dipped, and he’s now on pace for just 18 goals. However, he’s been better as of late, scoring three goals with three assists (six points) in his last seven games. He’s been a fixture in the Flames’ top-6 with Nazem Kadri and Dillon Dube. They are one of 72 lines with at least 100 5v5 TOI together, and they rank in the middle (36th) in xGF/60 (2.98).

Mikael Backlund (C) – 12% Rostered

Backlund has been on a nice run over the last two weeks, registering seven assists in his last eight games. Backlund doesn’t play in a very offensive role, but plays big minutes (17:20 ATOI) in the middle of the Flames’ lineup. The call-up of Matthew Phillips, who was leading the AHL when he was recalled, could lead to more offence for Backlund this week.

Adam Ruzicka (C/LW) – 7% Rostered

Ruzicka is the third member of the Flames’ third line with Backlund and Phillips. He had an incredible run on the top line in the middle of November but has still been productive in the middle-6. Ruzicka has eight points (6G / 2A) in his last eight games.

Dillon Dube (LW/RW) – 4% Rostered

Dube had a dreadful start to the season, picking up just four points (1G / 3A) in his first 17 games, but he has been much better of late. In his last 11 games, Dube has scored four goals with four assists (eight points). The lack of PP usage will limit his upside but skating with Kadri and Mangiapane makes him a better option than Ruzicka.

Minnesota Wild

Like the Flames, all four of the Wild’s games are on lighter days this week. They also have a favourable schedule, ranking as the fifth-easiest of the week.

Sam Steel (C/LW) – 3% Rostered

Steel is revitalizing his career in Minnesota after four disappointing years in Anaheim. The 2016 first-round pick has been skating on the top line with Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello for the last three weeks and has five points (4G / 1A) and 24 shots (2.4 SOG/gm) in 10 games over that span. Steel is also on the second power-play unit but has yet to pick up a PPP this season. This is partly because Minnesota’s PP2 sees just 24.2 percent of the Wild’s power-plays.

Frederick Gaudreau (C/LW/RW) – 2% Rostered

Gaudreau and Matt Boldy were an excellent combination last season but have struggled a bit offensively (2.04 xGF/60) without Kevin Fiala this season. Gaudreau has gone pointless in his last five games and has just one goal in his previous nine. Still, he’s playing guaranteed minutes and will provide you with four extra games played this week in great matchups.

Jordan Greenway (LW) – 1% Rostered

Greenway hasn’t offered much in terms of offence, but his shot volume (2.5 SOG/gm) has been solid in six games in December. With solid minutes at 5v5, PP2 usage and consistent shots, Greenway makes for a decent deep-league streaming target, especially in banger leagues–he’s averaging 1.6 hits per game.

Ottawa Senators

Only three of the Senators’ four games are on lighter days (Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday) but they have the third easiest schedule of the week.

Shane Pinto (C) – 9% Rostered

Pinto has cooled off after a great start to the season but continues to skate on the Senators’ second line with Alex DeBrincat and Drake Batherson. The trio is averaging a 2.7 xGF/60, so it’s a great spot to be skating for a week filled with easy matchups. Pinto will look to build off of his two assist performance in Nashville on Saturday.