It’s been a while since I’ve posted because of the NHL hiatus, but I have to say that the Four Nations Tournament has exceeded expectations and then some. It has been an incredible tournament with the big showdown coming on Thursday night between USA and Canada. The regular season starts up again on Saturday, so I’m going to have my updated hold/stream list finally come out on Monday. Before then, I’m going to publish my Playoff Manifesto. For those of you that are new in these parts, I break down every NHL’s schedule for the fantasy hockey playoffs i.e. for those of you in head to head leagues. Volume is King, and we want to take advantage of every single edge we can get. Before I get started, I want to explain my process and my abbreviations, plus give a small glossary.
With each team, I am going to give their name, and then five numbers in parentheses. For example:
ANAHEIM DUCKS (A,B,C,D,E) – XB2B, Y Light Day Games
A-E stands for how many games the Ducks have in each of the last five weeks of the season. Some leagues do not include the last week of the season, which only includes games on four days of the week (Monday to Thursday). If that’s the case, completely ignore the last number, and the last four numbers will be how many games the team has in your last four weeks, with D being your last week. X is the number of back to backs the team has in that stretch. This is very important as it is the best chance to stream players for those of you in leagues with limited moves. Additionally, it’s a chance to stream the backup goalie unless a team is really pushing for a playoff spot. Y tells you how many games the team has on a light day. A light day is any day in which there are five or fewer games in the NHL. These are the most important streaming days, as when there is a full slate or close to it, there’s no need to stream. It’s irrelevant for your holds, but it’s crucial for your streaming needs.
If you have any questions, be sure to let me know in the comments section and I’ll clarify anything else. For now, let’s get right into the Eastern Conference!
BOSTON BRUINS (4,2,4,3,1) – 2 B2B, 2 Light Days
I would put Boston’s schedule in the below average category. Fourteen games is one of the worst totals which is bad for their holds. From a streaming standpoint, there are a couple nice things. One, they start the playoffs playing the first night on a light day against the Sabres. After that, they close week one with a back to back, and also finished the third week with another Saturday/Sunday back to back. With the Bruins in the thick of the playoff race, this sets up well for a lot of Swayman games. We’ll have to see how they proceed near the trade deadline with regards to their best streamers.
BUFFALO SABRES (4,4,3,4,2) – 4B2B, 1 Light Day
Of course one of the best schedules has to go to my lowly Sabres. However, they are scoring plenty of goals, so there will be players to take advantage of. One, 17 games is the best in the league, as is the 15 if you don’t play the last four days of the season. Huge win for Dahlin and Tage and it’s potentially enough to turn more guys into holds. They also have back-to-backs on each of the last four Saturday/Sunday’s of the season. That’s incredible for streaming purposes. Peterka and Kulich could easily be huge difference makers down the stretch, as could Cozens and Zucker if he sticks around. The only downside is their only light day is the first night of playoffs, but it’s a pretty immaculate schedule overall
CAROLINA HURRICANES (3,3,3,4,2) – 4B2B, 2 Light Days
Solid schedule for Carolina. They close week one with three games in four nights against the California trio. In week three, they have another set of three games in four nights, including both of their light games, which would be an incredible spot to stream Hurricanes (April 2nd to 5th). If you do play the last week of the season, they’re one of only two teams that plays each of the last two days of the season (Detroit is the other). Fifteen games isn’t the best, but otherwise, it’s very good.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS (3,3,4,4,2) – 4B2B, 3 Light Days
One less game than the Sabres, but arguably the better schedule. Their three light days are in the first eight of the playoffs, with the first two Mondays included. Even better, the other game is the first Friday, the one day of the entire fantasy playoffs where there is only one game. Their schedule has a bit of everything, and with the injuries Columbus has, it’s safe to say there will be plenty of options for us when the time comes.
DETROIT RED WINGS (2,4,3,3,3) – 3B2B, 3 Light Days
After an ugly first week, it’s a pretty decent schedule if your league includes the last four days. Detroit is one of only two teams that has three games in the last four days. Their games are a bit spread out which isn’t ideal for streaming, but their light days being spread out makes them someone that has to stay on our radar. There aren’t many guys on Detroit I’m interested in streaming right now, but with the trade deadline coming, I’m expecting some changes
FLORIDA PANTHERS (3,2,4,3,2) – 4B2B, 1 Light Day
Horrible schedule for holds, pretty good for streaming. That’s what happens when you only have 14 games, but 8 of them are in back to back sets. The nicest part is in week three, where the four games are two back to back sets with their one light day game included. The beginning of April is going to be a smash streaming spot for Florida.
MONTREAL CANADIENS (3,4,4,3,2) – 3B2B, 1 Light Day
Considering their lack of appealing streamers, it’s a pretty good schedule having 16 games for their holds. Their one light day game is a five game slate which isn’t great, and the day after is an 11 game slate so we’re not really taking advantage of the back to back. There are some three games in four nights sets, but they’re all days that have a ton of games.
NEW JERSEY DEVILS (3,4,2,3,2) – 2B2B, 5 Light Days
Five games on light days is the best in the league, making the Devils an amazing streaming target even with only two back to backs. There’s at least one light game in every week besides the last (there are no light days in the last four). Week two is definitely their best with four games in six days, including two light days. They also don’t play that Sunday so you can cut bait with your streamers to target categories you need the last day. Fifteen games is subpar for their holds, but I think we see some quality streamers for the Devils.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS (3,4,3,4,2) – 2B2B, 3 Light Days
The Isles also have two light days in week two, but it sets up well in a different way than the Devils. They have the two light days early in the week, then two off days, then a back to back to close the week. You can fill the spot with a Montreal or Utah guy that has a Thursday-Friday back to back and then grab the Isles player back if you want. With sixteen games, it’s a solid schedule overall.
NEW YORK RANGERS (3,3,2,4,2) – 2B2B, 3 Light Days
This schedule is setup for a heavy Igor workload. There’s only 14 games, and one of the two is the Sharks and Ducks, so Quick will get one of those. Fourteen games is rough for their studs, and the only prime streaming spot comes in week 4. They have four games in the first six nights, including one back to back and two light days. Like the Devils in week 2, you can cut bait with Rangers streamers on Sunday (maybe your final day for championships) and stream whoever you want from the nine game slate. Overall, definitely below average.
OTTAWA SENATORS (3,4,4,3,2) – 2B2B, 1 Light Day
Sixteen games is very good for their holds, but this is one of the worst streaming schedules. They do close week 2 with a Columbus and Pittsburgh back to back, two games with high scoring potential. Before that, they play Buffalo and Detroit that week. The third week also closes with a back to back and all four games that week are at home. It’s really rough the other three weeks though.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (4,3,2,3,2) – 2B2B, 3 Light Days
The Flyers close week one with three games in four nights, although they’re all on the road and two are against Tampa and Dallas. They close week four with a back to back as well. If you have any interest in streaming a Flyer (I assume it’s minimal), you’ll have to do it on a light day because their games are incredibly spread out.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (3,3,3,3,1) – 1B2B, 2 Light Days
Buzz, your girlfriend, woof. Thirteen games with zero four game weeks is awful for holds and streaming. Week three closes in three games in four nights, but none are light days. The only positive of the entire schedule is during week one, when they play Columbus on Friday, the only game on the slate. Even with that, it has to be the worst schedule in the league for fantasy purposes.
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING (4,3,3,4,2) – 1B2B, 4 Light Days
There’s a good chance Vasilevskiy ends up the most valuable player in fantasy playoffs. Tampa has to keep pushing right now, and they have 16 games with only one back to back. Additionally, the four light days is great. The even better part for their streamers is that three of the light days come in week four before closing the week against the Sabres. Tampa almost always manages to add someone at the deadline, and that player could step into a golden opportunity in real life and for us in fantasy. Elite schedule all around.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (4,4,2,4,2) – 4B2B, 4 Light Days
Very good schedule with the ease there is in managing it. Two of their light days come in week one on Monday and Wednesday with the added benefit of a Thursday game for a back to back. There’s no light day in week two, but they close with three games in four nights in California. In week four, there’s a double back to back with a light day mixed in. Even in week three when they only have two games, one is on a light day.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS (3,3,4,3,2) – 2B2B, 2 Light Days
Week three is definitely the focal point for using Washington players. Both of their light days come two days apart, making up part of a three games in four nights set. They do close week four with three games in four nights as well, including a Saturday/Sunday back to back against Columbus. Certainly not the best schedule, but certainly not the worst either.
That’s all for now guys. I’ll be back later in the week (probably Friday) with the second half, covering the Western Conference teams. As always, feel free to ask any questions, leave any comments, or give any suggestions below. Thanks for reading, take care!
Thanks for this Viz! Doing some scouting on what’s out there and this is super helpful!
Going to assume you’ll do one for the West?