Fantasy Hockey Pucks on Net schedule analysis: Try to avoid Canadiens, Jets this week
Finding volume plays and schedule advantages is essential in head-to-head and roto leagues. With that in mind, here are the schedule details for the week of October 28-November 3, along with specific targets who could tip the scales in close fantasy matchups.
4 games
Calgary Flames (@CAR, @NSH, @CBJ, @WSH)
Vancouver Canucks (FLA, @LAK, @ANA, @SJS)
3 games
Anaheim Ducks (WIN, VAN, CHI)
Arizona Coyotes (@BUF, MTL, COL)
Boston Bruins (@NYR, SJS, OTT)
Buffalo Sabres (ARI, @WSH, NYI)
Carolina Hurricanes (CGY, DET, NJD)
Chicago Blackhawks (@NSH, @LAK, @ANA)
Colorado Avalanche (FLA, DAL, @ARI)
Columbus Blue Jackets (EDM, @STL, CGY)
Dallas Stars (MIN, @COL, MTL)
Detroit Red Wings (EDM, @CAR, @FLA)
Edmonton Oilers (@DET, @CBJ, @PIT)
Florida Panthers (@VAN, @COL, DET)
Minnesota Wild (@DAL, @STL, STL)
Montreal Canadians (@ARI, @VGK, @DAL)
Nashville Predators (CHI, CGY, NYR)
New Jersey Devils (TBL, PHI, @CAR)
Philadelphia Flyers (@PIT, @NJD, TOR)
San Jose Sharks (@BOS, WPG, VAN)
St. Louis Blues (MIN, CBJ, @MIN)
Tampa Bay Lightning (@NYR, @NJD, @NYI)
Washington Capitals (@TOR, BUF, CGY)
Winnipeg Jets (@ANA, @SJS, @VGK)
2 games
Los Angeles Kings (VAN, CHI)
New York Islanders (TBL, @BUF)
New York Rangers (TBL, @NSH)
Pittsburgh Penguins (PHI, EDM)
Toronto Maple Leafs (WSH, @PHI)
Vegas Golden Knights (MTL, WPG)
1 game
Ottawa Senators (@BOS)
Schedule Analysis
With just two teams enjoying four-game weeks, players on the Flames and Canucks will be especially valuable. Because seven clubs play fewer than three games and so few teams have a high-volume week, gamers will need to chase players with favorable matchups across three games.
-The Blues have a favorable three-game slate by virtue of a home-and-home series with the Wild, who have allowed 3.6 goals per game.
-The Lightning have plenty of firepower, and they will get their share of chances to score goals when they face a pair of clubs who are in the bottom-10 in goals-against average.
-The Bruins may have the most appealing three-game schedule of any team next week, as they face a trio of clubs who are in the bottom 10 teams in goals-against average and goal differential.
-The Canadians and Jets are clubs to avoid. Both teams are on the road all week and face two squads (VGK, ARI) who are especially stingy.
-Senators players are virtually unusable next week, as the club’s lone game is against a Boston team that is among the best at keeping pucks out of their net.
-The Islanders are the second-least desirable club, as they face a surging Sabres team and a talented Lightning squad.
Volume Plays
Milan Lucic, Calgary Flames (LW, 8 percent rostered)
The hulking winger could make a big splash in leagues that reward toughness during his four-game week. Lucic leads the NHL with 26 PIMs. He’s also collected 36 hits.
Mikael Backlund, Calgary Flames (C, 18 percent)
Backlund can help those in leagues that count face-offs won, as the 30-year-old has won 73 draws so far this year. He is also a consistent offensive producer (45-53 points in each of the past four seasons) and was +34 in 2018-19.
Alexander Edler, Vancouver Canucks (D, 61%)
Although already rostered in more than half of leagues, Edler should be active in all contests for a four-game week. The veteran is posting high totals for a rearguard in points (six), shots (25), hits (17) and blocks (21).
Bo Horvat, Vancouver Canucks (C, 54%)
Horvat will swing the category next week in leagues that count face-offs won. The Canucks captain ranks third in the NHL in that category, trailing only Sidney Crosby and Ryan O’Reilly.
Jake DeBrusk, Boston Bruins (LW/RW, 33%)
DeBrusk is off to a slow start but still has plenty of impact potential. A favorable three-game week is the right time to give him a fresh opportunity, especially with the Bruins in search of secondary scoring.
Sammy Blais, St. Louis Blues (LW/RW, 28%)
Blais is off to an impactful start, racking up points (five) and hits (39), while also sitting at +3. An appealing three-game slate is the perfect reason to boost his rostership percentage.
Vince Dunn, St. Louis Blues (D, 30%)
Dunn hasn’t made a major impact thus far, but all four of his points have come on the power play and he ranks among the team leaders in shots. He still has the potential to be a multi-category stud.
Anthony Cirelli, Tampa Bay Lightning (C, 8%)
Cirelli may not have found the back of the net, but he has collected four assists, two of which came on the power play. He also leads the club in face-offs won and ranks fourth among their talented forward group in TOI.
Jacob Markstrom, Vancouver Canucks (G, 71%)
Markstrom ranks 22nd among goalies in rostership percentage but is playing well (2.16 GAA, .933 SV%) and should make a major contribution during his upcoming four-game week.
