Fantasy Hockey: Weekly Strength of Schedule and Streaming Targets — Week 3

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 best schedule this week.

Last Week’s Streaming Targets (Results)

Andrew Mangiapane (CGY) – GP:4, G:1, A:0, SOG:4, Hit:2
Matt Coronato (CGY) – GP:4, G:0, A:1, SOG:8, Hit:0
Lucas Raymond (DET) – GP:4, G:0, A:4, SOG:8, Hit:1
J.T. Compher (DET) – GP:4, G:0, A:1, SOG:4, Hit:1
Daniel Sprong (DET) – GP:4, G:0, A:2, SOG:5, Hit:2
Logan Cooley (ARI) – GP:4, G:0, A:2, SOG:3, Hit:0
Nick Schmaltz (ARI) – GP:4, G:1, A:2, SOG:11, Hit:3
Barrett Hayton (ARI) – GP:4, G:0, A:0, SOG:11, Hit:0

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. For context, CBJ currently grades as the worst defensively, with a rating of 92.16. Carolina is the best, with a rating of 12.46.
SCORE: The sum of all of the Defensive Ratings that the team will face this week.
AVG Opponent: The Average Defensive Ratings that the team will face this week.
Strength of Schedule is determined by the sum of defensive ratings, because we want players that play the most games but also have the easiest matchups.
Light Nights: A night in the NHL with eight or fewer games.

Week 3 – Strength of Schedule

Week 3 Streaming Targets

SOS = Strength of Schedule Rank (1 good, 32 bad)
Light = No. of games on Lighter days (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun)

New Jersey Devils (SOS: #1 | Light: 3)

The Devils are undoubtedly the team to target for streamers this week. They have the best schedule, and three of their four games are on light nights. The issue with the Devils is that their high-end players are all extremely high-owned, so you have to target their secondary scorers.

Dawson Mercer (C/RW) – 45% Owned

Mercer is unlikely to be available for many of you, but if he is, he would be one of the top choices for the week. He’s had a plodding start to the season, failing to record a point with just four shots on goal in four games. However, he’s been unfortunate thus far, as he carries a 5.0 on-ice SH%. Mercer’s usage is modest (16:33 ATOI, L3 & PP2), but it’s similar to what we saw from him last season, when he racked up 56 points (27G / 29A) in 82 games, so he’s good enough to be productive in a secondary role.

Erik Haula (LW) – 10% Owned

You can wait to pick up Haula until after Monday or Tuesday’s practice to ensure he will play all four games this week. Haula missed Friday’s game against the Islanders with an upper-body injury, so he’s questionable as they head into Tuesday’s game in Montreal. Like Mercer, Haula’s usage is mediocre, but he’s made the most of it during his time in New Jersey. Haula carries strong shot volume and will chip in some hits for the banger-league players. In 83 games with the Devils, Haula has 44 points (16G / 28A) while averaging 2.1 SOG, 1.2 Hits and 16:32 TOI/gm.

Ondrej Palat (LW) – 5% Owned

Palat is the most widely available Devils’ skater among the streaming targets, and maybe the most attractive option as well. Palat is the only member of the Devils’ top-6 that is under 91% owned. Most recently, he’s been skating on a line with Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt and seeing time on the second power-play unit. So far, he has just two assists and five shots in four games, but it’s hard to ignore his spot in the lineup when they have such a favourable schedule this week.

Montreal Canadiens (SOS: #2 | Light: 1)

The Canadiens have the second easiest schedule of the week but only one game on a light night. That makes them more difficult to target for a week-long stream, but they are one of two teams playing on Monday and are worth the pickup if you have a lot of weekly transactions at your disposal.

Michael Matheson (D) – 35% Owned

If you need help on the blueline, Matheson will carry value beyond this week. He’s currently playing massive minutes (25:48 ATOI) for the Canadiens and is operating as their PP1 QB. Matheson has picked up two assists in four games, and his 14 SOG is tied for 10th among defensemen this season. If your league has counting stats like hits and blocks, he has even more value. He’s averaging 1.3 hits and 3.3 blocks per game so far.

Sean Monahan (C) – 11% Owned

Monahan has enjoyed a solid start to the season, picking up two goals and two assists (four points) in four games. At first glance, his spot as the Habs’ No.3 centre doesn’t look all that appealing. However, he’s also getting time on the top power-play unit and is averaging 18:19 TOI/gm, third-most among Canadiens’ forwards.

Josh Anderson (RW) – 11% Owned

Anderson is more of a banger-league target. Depending on your format, he could carry a lot of value as a streamer. So far this season, he has just one assist, but he’s averaging 2.5 shots, 2.3 hits and 5.5 PIMS per game.

San Jose Sharks (SOS: #4 | Light: 2)

The Sharks have a favourable schedule this week, but are they talented enough to take advantage of it? They have two light night games this week, but they come on Friday and Sunday, making them better weekend streaming targets if you have the roster moves available.

Tomas Hertl (C) – 44 % Owned

If I’m streaming any Sharks’ skaters for the week, Hertl is the only one worthy of the pick-up. The rest of their lineup has been shuffling regularly, but Hertl’s role as the alpha has remained consistent. He’s their best player and has produced at a point-per-game pace on a winless hockey team. He’s not widely available, but he has one goal, four assists, 11 shots and four hits in five games.

Minnesota Wild (SOS: #5 | Light: 2)

Ryan Hartman (C/RW) – 27% Owned

Hartman’s early-season production leaves much to be desired, but his spot on the Wild’s depth chart is secure. At 5v5, he skates with Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello and sees time on their second power-play unit. Hartman will likely never recapture the 34-goal form we saw from him in 2022, but he’s more than capable of putting up point-per-game totals for you for one week, especially when the schedule allows it.

Calen Addison (D) – 7% Owned

Addison is a solid stream for those who need help on the blueline. With Jared Spurgeon sidelined, Addison is skating on the Wild’s top pair with Jonas Brodin and the top power-play unit. It was always tricky to roster the PP QB because his 5v5 role was so limited, but that’s no longer the case. He has two assists and 10 shots in two five this season and averaged 20:35 TOI/gm over his last three games.

Marcus Johansson (LW) – 4% Owned

Like Addison, Johansson has also been the benefactor of an injury. With Matt Boldy out, Johansson has moved up to the Wild’s top power-play unit and had a big game on Saturday. Johansson potted one goal with one assist in 19:41 TOI. He’s playing with Joel Eriksson Ek at 5v5 and could have a strong week given their matchups.

Washington Capitals (SOS: #7 | Light: 3)

The Capitals are off to a horrific start to the season, ranking last in the NHL in goals/60 (1.22), thanks to a league-low 5.1 SH%. Still, they have enough talented veterans to be able to right the ship, and Alex Ovechkin isn’t going to go without a goal forever.

Dylan Strome (C) – 23% Owned

Speaking of Ovechkin, Strome is currently the pivot on the top line with him and Matthew Phillips. Strome had a quiet start to the season but scored two goals in Montreal on Saturday and has seen a bump in ice time in the last two games. Whoever is on Ovechkin’s line is a solid bet for some production, and right now, that’s Strome.

T.J. Oshie (RW) – 10% Owned

Oshie has probably been the Capitals’ best player so far. He has the highest 5v5 on-ice relative xGF/60 on the team and leads the team in all situations xGF (2.73) by a wide margin. Despite that, he’s been held pointless through four games. Oshie will play big minutes in the top-6 and top power-play unit, and if he keeps creating chances, the points will come. If positive regression sets in for Washington this week, Oshie could be one of the best streamers, given their three light night games.