This article is part of our Schedule Analysis series.
Four Aces (Teams playing four games)
Ranging from toughest to easiest schedule, here are the six teams playing four games this week.
6. New York Rangers
After hosting the Bruins, the roller-coaster Rangers hit the road where they'll play seven of their next 10 games, including the Flyers twice. Combined record against this week's opponents. 1-3-3
5. Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks start their week by hosting the NHL's hottest team, the Panthers, then travel east for a six-game road trip, starting with arguably the NHL's best team, the Caps. While they'll get a weaker opponent next in Carolina, it will be the second half of a back-to-back. Combined record against this week's opponents: 2-1-1
4. San Jose Sharks
Like Chicago, the Sharks will also play four times in both of the next two weeks. Combined record against this week's opponents: 1-3-1
3. Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks will play eight times over the next 14 days. Ordinarily, playing Montreal twice in one week is enough to get you ranked most difficult, but the Canadiens have been far from overwhelming this season. Combined record against this week's opponents: 1-1
2. Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes will also play one team twice, Pittsburgh, another team not exactly meeting expectations. Combined record against this week's opponents: 2-1
1. Boston Bruins
The Bruins finish up a five-game road trip and host Toronto. Combined record against this week's opponents: 3-1-1
Three of a Kind (Teams playing three games)
With most (22 teams) of the NHL playing a
Four Aces (Teams playing four games)
Ranging from toughest to easiest schedule, here are the six teams playing four games this week.
6. New York Rangers
After hosting the Bruins, the roller-coaster Rangers hit the road where they'll play seven of their next 10 games, including the Flyers twice. Combined record against this week's opponents. 1-3-3
5. Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks start their week by hosting the NHL's hottest team, the Panthers, then travel east for a six-game road trip, starting with arguably the NHL's best team, the Caps. While they'll get a weaker opponent next in Carolina, it will be the second half of a back-to-back. Combined record against this week's opponents: 2-1-1
4. San Jose Sharks
Like Chicago, the Sharks will also play four times in both of the next two weeks. Combined record against this week's opponents: 1-3-1
3. Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks will play eight times over the next 14 days. Ordinarily, playing Montreal twice in one week is enough to get you ranked most difficult, but the Canadiens have been far from overwhelming this season. Combined record against this week's opponents: 1-1
2. Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes will also play one team twice, Pittsburgh, another team not exactly meeting expectations. Combined record against this week's opponents: 2-1
1. Boston Bruins
The Bruins finish up a five-game road trip and host Toronto. Combined record against this week's opponents: 3-1-1
Three of a Kind (Teams playing three games)
With most (22 teams) of the NHL playing a three-game schedule, here are three teams with the most favorable (Hold' Em) three game as well as unfavorable (Fold' Em) schedules.
Hold' Em
New York Islanders
The Isles play all three at home, including the Jackets to start the week and an always spirited game with cross-town rivals the Rangers.
Florida Panthers
How do you not expect a big week from a team that has won 11 straight games? After finishing up their tour of Canada, they close out the week with a big matchup against inter-state rival Tampa Bay.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs catch three teams on the second-half of back-to-back games this week.
Fold 'Em
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers have three in five nights against some old school rivals. See more below.
Montreal Canadiens
Chicago twice. The Canadiens are in a rut and they're highly unlikely to repeat last year's 2-0 series win over the Hawks.
Buffalo Sabres
I like the progress being made in Buffalo, but bouts with Minnesota, Boston and Washington make this not the week to invest. Robin Lehner isn't likely to make it back from his AHL conditioning stint this week.
One-eyed Jacks* (Streaming Options)
Streaming players under favorable circumstances has always been the best way to stack points whether in standard or DFS scoring formats. Here's a few match-ups and players you might find some value in this week:
Monday
Logan Couture - The two teams have combined for 13 goals in two games.The Flames (13-8) are good at home, but not as good as the Sharks (13-6-2) are on the road. Additionally, though San Jose is just 22nd in scoring, Flames goalies yielded the fourth-most goals (123) in the league headed into this past weekend's action. Couture has been cold of late, but he loves (nine goals, 22 points in 22 career games) playing against Calgary.
Tuesday
Mikael Granlund - Ranked 11th in scoring, the Wild will play host to Buffalo. While this is their first meeting of the season, the Sabres were rocked for a minus-10 goal differential (13-3) in two losses last season against Minnesota. This will be Granlund's first career game against the Sabres, but he has certainly shown an extra push on Tuesday nights, where he has logged a plus-4 to go along with a season-best nine points in seven games this season.
Wednesday
Toronto- Traveling from Brooklyn, Columbus will hope to avenge an opening month 6-3 loss to the Maple Leafs. While it's possible Sergei Bobrovsky (groin) could return to give them a chance, it's unlikely. The Leafs have shown the ability to bust out with six or seven-goal games, so playing against the league's worst defense increases those odds, Seth Jones or not. For those who rode the Jonathan Bernier train one game too long (he allowed seven goals to San Jose) last week, you may be hesitant to start him against the Blue Jackets. But James Reimer is 1-3 with a 4.65 goals-against average in four career starts versus Columbus. I think Bernier bounces back. As for their forwards, James van Riemsdyk, Michael Grabner and Tyler Bozak enjoy facing Columbus, perform well on three-days rest and have found the scorer's sheet on most Wednesdays this season.
Thursday
Blake Comeau- While the Devils have been solid on the road and stingy all around, something about this matchup makes me think Colorado will stick it to New Jersey. Playing the Rangers (21 points in 29 career games) and Devils (15 points in 26 games) really stirs Comeau's talents for some reason. Comeau also stacks his points on Saturdays, so you may want to consider him Saturday versus the Blue Jackets.
Friday
Maple Leafs - They'll begin their own back-to-back set against a Chicago team that will likely have less zip after hosting Nashville and traveling from Montreal. However, Toronto has been outscored (6-3) this season, splitting the season series one game apiece. Winning streak or not, Chicago will have their hands full Friday.
Saturday
Jonas Gustavsson - With Boston playing on back-to-back nights, Monster could get either start, against the Sabres (2.24 goals per game, ranked 26th in NHL) or against his old mates, the Maple Leafs (1.85 GAA in three career games). Since their embarrassing loss in the Winter Classic, the Bruins have tightened up the defense a bit. Because Jack Eichel burned Monster for his first career four-point night just a few weeks back, I'm guessing Tukka Rask goes against Buffao and Gustavsson will defend the net at home versus Toronto.
Sunday
Detroit - In a battle for goals allowed mediocrity and meeting for the first time of the season, Philly outscored the Wings 13-9 en route to a 2-1 series win one year ago. Although Detroit is a better team now, it should be a tight score, old school affair. Expect chippy play.
