If you missed Part One covering the Eastern Conference, which came out during the Four Nations break, you can check that out here. The glossary is located at the top of that post as well. Without further adieu, let’s get to it!
ANAHEIM DUCKS (3,3,4,3,2) – 2B2B, 3 Light Days
One of the weaker schedules to start with, Anaheim’s back to backs aren’t until the last two weeks of the season, so one of them could be when your championship is over. To start Week 4, there is a three games in four nights that covers a back to back and two light days. That is the clear highlight here. Otherwise, with just 15 games, not much to see here. And that’s just fine because despite their hot streak before the break, it’s not a team I’m that interested in.
CALGARY FLAMES (4,3,4,4,2) – 2B2B, 5 Light Days
From one of the worst to one of the best. Seventeen games is tied for the best, a great benefit to their holds. They actually start fantasy playoffs with a back to back including a light day, which is nice. The big thing is week four, presumably during fantasy championships. Four games, three light days, with games against the Ducks, Wild, and Sharks twice. Absolutely fantastic. None of them are back to back, but given the light days, it’s still great for streaming. If Calgary is still fighting for the playoffs, it sets up extremely well for Wolf to make a huge difference.
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (4,3,3,3,2) – 2B2B, 3 Light Days
Pretty rough schedule for everyone on the team. That said, are we really using anyone in shallow leagues besides Bedard? Better them than a good team. For deeper leagues, they close week one with a back to back, and they close the season with a back to back, but don’t play on the last two days of the season. If you play the last few days, you can cut Bedard after that and turn it into a stream spot for the last two days.
COLORADO AVALANCHE (3,3,4,4,0) – 3B2B, 3 Light Days
Well, let’s hope you aren’t counting on Avalanche and play the last four days of the season, because that goose egg is brutal. Before that, it sets up nicely. There’s a back to back week one including a light day with only two games, and a three in four to start week three with two light days. They also close week four with a back to back. In redrafts, ending their season so early is kind of convenient so you can cut bait more easily than say, a Kyle Connor who plays one game the last week on the second last day.
DALLAS STARS (3,4,4,3,2) – 2B2B, 3 Light Days
Dallas is nice because they have a very good week two schedule, which is a rarity around the league. They play on two light days that make up a 3 in 4 nights. They also open week three with a light day game on Monday. In other words, it’s great for streaming in the first half of fantasy playoffs, and then look elsewhere. At the end of the season, their games are spread out. Whether or not they’re fighting for playoff seeding will make a big difference, because if it’s needed, Oettinger can easily start every game.
EDMONTON OILERS (3,3,3,4,2) – 2B2B, 4 Light Days
Not the best schedule, especially because their team is driven by studs and they only get 15 games. That said, they have to be noted for week four. They have four games that are every other day, but they cover three light days. They’re changing their players around in the top six so it’s too early to say who will be the top streamer to target. There could still be a trade here as well. The schedule does set up nicely for a goalie to get hot and play most of the games. Can Skinner salvage his season for you, assuming he didn’t sink it already?
LOS ANGELES KINGS (4,4,3,3,3) – 3B2B, 2 Light Days
If your championship goes through the last day of the season, the Kings are the team for you. Along with Detroit, they’re the only two teams to play three games in the last week. They close both weeks one and two with a back to back. They have a light day in the first and fourth week. Seventeen games is tied for the most, making it a great schedule in all facets.
MINNESOTA WILD (3,3,4,3,1) – 2B2B, 8 Light Days!
I had to do a double take on this. You see 14 games, tied for the fewest in the league, and think this schedule has to be horrible. Not the case at all. Despite nobody else in the league having more than five light day games, the Wild have a whopping eight. Not only does that make it an incredible streaming schedule, but it does boost the value of their stars. Yes, you’re getting 1-3 less games from say, Boldy, but it gives you way more flexibility on the busy days with regards to who you are streaming while you put Boldy on your bench. They have 2, 1, 3, and 2 light day games in the first four weeks respectively, and a back to back to open week two. They’re going to be one of the most important teams down the stretch, but especially in leagues with weekly moves or limited transactions.
NASHVILLE PREDATORS (4,3,4,3,2) – 2B2B, 1 Light Day
The one light day game opens week three, which is nice, as is 16 games. Their back to backs close week one and start week three, which helps in terms of streaming. That said, it’s hard to see streaming anyone on Nashville outside of those back to backs. At least they don’t have any streaming options anyways? Nice setup for Forsberg and Josi at least.
SAN JOSE SHARKS (2,3,3,4,2) – 2B2B, 3 Light Days
Another fourteen game schedule for a bad team. It sucks for Celebrini, but I wouldn’t be holding anyone else on their team right now anyways. They do close week two with a back to back, but the real streaming comes in week four. There are three light day games, albeit against the Flames, Wild, and Oilers. Guys like Toffoli and Eklund could be big difference makers.
SEATTLE KRAKEN – (3,3,3,4,1) – 2B2B, 4 Light Days
Rinse and repeat. Fourteen games for a bad team. That does make their fringe players more towards streamers, but there are some good spots to stream. In week one, the Kraken have a back to back on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Wednesday being a two game slate. You can skip week two altogether, before two light day games in week three, and a back to back to open week four.
ST. LOUIS BLUES (4,3,3,3,1) – 1B2B, 2 Light Days
There’s a case for this being the worst schedule of them all. In week one, they close with a back to back and in week four, they do play on two light days. Otherwise, they are completely unusable. Every other day that they play, there is at least 9 games that day, and that’s only one day. Their other 11 games all have 10+ games on the slate. It even puts Kyrou on the fringe, with Thomas the only clear hold.
UTAH HOCKEY CLUB (3,4,3,3,2) – 2B2B, 1 Light Day
Another team with a good week two, they have their light day plus a separate back to back that week. After that, you can pretty much ignore Utah for streaming until a Monday-Tuesday back to back the last week of the season. It’s not as bad as St. Louis, but I would knock Utah guys down a rung after week two.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS (3,4,3,3,2) – 1B2B, 3 Light Days
The one back to back comes to close week three. They also play on the two light days in Week Two on Monday and Wednesday respectively. That will be the two streaming spots for Vancouver. The schedule is set up extremely nicely for a goalie to take over, but it’s only possible for Lankinen at this point. Demko can’t stay healthy, but he should be back before fantasy playoffs start, so I expect close to an even split. That can obviously change before then.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS (3,3,4,3,2) – 4B2B, 0 Light Days
Well, this is a simple schedule. The only team without a light day game, Vegas’ schedule is pretty rough overall. We obviously have to target the back to backs, which come at the end of week one and three, a Friday/Saturday back to back in week two, and Tuesday/Wednesday in the last week. They do have three days off to open the first week, so if you have any fringe Vegas guys, I would probably cut them before the week starts for someone who has heavy action to open the week (Flames or Leafs are easy targets) and then try to grab them back afterwards.
WINNIPEG JETS (3,3,3,4,1) – 1B2B, 1 Light Day
Well, this schedule is amazing for Hellebuyck. If they need to keep pushing down the stretch for seeding (unlikely right now but you never know), it’s so spread out that he could start almost every game. Otherwise, woof. Week four opens with a light day and finishes with a back to back. Otherwise, there’s zero need to stream anyone on the Jets.
That’s all for now guys. My plan is to be back on Tuesday or Wednesday with a hold/stream list update. As always, feel free to ask any questions, leave any comments, or give any suggestions below. Thanks for reading, take care!
Would you move Hischier for Necas Viz?
Depends a bit on your team needs and league format. The extra minutes Necas is getting in Colorado probably nudges him ahead of Hischier, but it’s really close.