We’ve finally reached the final four weeks of the regular season. That means fantasy hockey playoffs! This post is meant to help you plan for this specific week on a micro-sense. For the macro picture, check the the Eastern Conference Playoff Manifesto here and the Western Conference here. We’ll take a look at every day this week and point out the best streamers to use or what games to target. Let’s get to it!
Mon 3/9: WSH @ BUF, COL @ LAK, ARZ @ WIN, FLA @ STL, VGK @ EDM
A five game slate is the smallest for the next three weeks. It’s nice to get an early lead in your matchup so streaming here is a good plan. Capitals players are a great choice such as Ilya Kovalchuk and Lars Eller. There has been a lineup shuffle in Edmonton, and given that Marc-Andre Fleury is playing, I definitely would like to use Oilers. Zack Kassian is back with McDavid which makes him an elite streamer while Tyler Ennis is with Draisaitl. If for some reason Kailer Yamamoto is available, that’s my top choice. As for goalies, it’s too early to know who is starting. I assume Michael Hutchinson will play against the suddenly hot Kings, but if you want to gamble that the Avs play a tight defensive game, he’s not the worst play. Yes, I can’t believe I typed that.
Tue 3/10: NSH @ MON, PIT @ NJD, BOS @ PHI, TBL @ TML, CAR @ DET, NYR @ DAL, NYI @ VAN, OTT @ ANA
There could easily be 8+ goals in the Tampa-Toronto game. Ondrej Palat remains the best streamer if he’s available in your league. Denis Malgin is currently with Tavares and Nylander making him an elite streamer in deep leagues. I’m a big fan of streaming Jakob Silfverberg here. One, a game against Ottawa is always good. Two, it’s a revenge game for Silfverberg. Three, he plays against on Wednesday on another five game slate so you can get two games out of him. I know that the Red Wings are playing better, but whoever is playing in net for Carolina will be an elite option.
Wed 3/11: NYR @ COL, SJS @ CHI, WIN @ EDM, STL @ ANA, OTT @ LAK
The Sens are also on a back-to-back here making Connor Brown a very good option here. My hope is that Cal Petersen gets the start here because he would be an elite streamer. If you’re looking for a player only for Wednesday, Vladislav Namestnikov has to be at the top of the list. Names is playing with MacKinnon and Landeskog right now and he’s playing well. He scored a goal on Sunday night and was noticeable throughout the game. Great spot for him against a Rangers team that is fun to watch meaning weak defensively.
Thu 3/12: BUF @ MON, CAR @ NJD, PHI @ TBL, NSH @ TML, DET @ WSH, PIT @ CBJ, VGK @ MIN, FLA @ DAL, NYI @ CAL, VAN @ ARZ
It’s a ten game slate on Thursday which means streaming isn’t really necessary. That means we’re only going to focus on the best players here. Again, the Caps are great options, same guys as above. In net, if Ilya Samsonov is available and starts, he’s an elite option. Sure, he’s been rough lately, but it’s the Red Wings. Honestly, I don’t see a ton of goals in this slate. Maybe Nashville guys being that it’s the Leafs? Mikael Granlund is still available in over 1/3rd of leagues and is worth using.
Fri 3/13: BOS @ BUF, VAN @ COL, SJS @ STL, OTT @ CHI, NYI @ EDM
The two teams on back-to-backs here are the Sabres and the Islanders. The Sabres have,well, nobody I want to stream unless Jeff Skinner is available. I have been impressed with Dominik Kahun, but that’s a deep league play. I’m going back to the Namestnikov well here for sure. Dylan Strome is back with Kane making him an elite streamer as well. In that matchup, Strome and Brandon Saad are both great options. With the Bruins playing the Leafs on Saturday, I expect Jaroslav Halak to start against the Sabres. That’s as good of a stream as you’ll get. Ondrej Kase is also a solid option, albeit behind Jake DeBrusk if he’s available in your league.
Sat 3/14: MIN @ PHI, ANA @ LAK, DET @ TBL, TML @ BOS, PIT @ CAR, CHI @ WSH, NJD @ FLA, NSH @ CBJ, SJS @ DAL, NYR @ ARZ, WIN @ CGY
Another massive slate with eleven games. Tampa, Philly, Pittsburgh, Carolina, New Jersey, Minnesota, Nashville, Winnipeg, and Anaheim all play on Saturday and Sunday making them the elite teams to stream from. Tampa gets to play the Red Wings once again and the Devils on Sunday, so on top of Palat, Anthony Cirelli and Blake Coleman are great options. For those in deep leagues, for some reason Justin Dowling is getting shifts with Seguin and Benn again. If that stays, then he’s worth using against the Sharks.
Sun 3/15: VGK @ COL, CAR @ BUF, EDM @ PHI, OTT @ STL, MTL @ ANA, NJD @ TBL, NYI @ PIT, NSH @ MIN, WIN @ VAN
If you’re in a league with one week matchups and you need a streamer solely for Sunday, we’re looking towards Carolina and St. Louis. Plenty of options for Carolina and it comes down to what you’re looking for. Robert Thomas, Zach Sanford, and Sammy Blais are all viable here as well. If for some reason Skinner is available again, he uses does well against his former team. You can ask me in the comments section of Friday’s post about what goalies I would be looking to use here.
Three Point Challenge for Tuesday games. Remember, nobody in the top ten in the league in points. Give me Sebastian Aho.
That’s all for now guys. I’ll be back on Wednesday with notes on the next two nights of hockey. As always, feel free to ask any questions, leave any comments, and give any suggestions below. Thanks for reading, take care!
