This article is part of our Schedule Analysis series.
Although the first full week of December will offer some strange variables (see GNW column below), keeping pace with the last few weeks in November, the NHL schedule is busy once again as the final month of 2015 begins. Players from just two teams (Calgary, Washington) should be avoided for the most part. Here's the rest:
12 teams play a full four-game slate this week, including two teams with the rare four games without a back-to-back. Ranked from weakest to strongest strength of schedule, here are the NHL teams providing the most opportunities for fantasy punch this week:
The Good
1. New Jersey Devils
Despite a lack of goal-scoring (ranked 23rd), nothing about New Jersey's schedule should weigh heavy. Still, Adam Henrique continues to plug away with 19 points in 28 games and John Moore had a big night in Saturday's win. Jiri Tlusty's (shoulder) return is not known.
2. New York Rangers
The Rangers (combined record of 3-0 against this week's opponents) will try to snap their longest losing streak in over a year. It's not guaranteed Antti Raanta will get the nod in the team's back-to-back tilts this week, but if he does he'll likely get the Avs at home considering his road woes. With Derek Stepan (ribs) out indefinitely, the entire Rangers depth chart takes a hit, but fantasy owners could take advantage with players like Oscar Lindberg, J.T. Miller and Kevin Hayes. For now, it appears Hayes will center the team's second line
Although the first full week of December will offer some strange variables (see GNW column below), keeping pace with the last few weeks in November, the NHL schedule is busy once again as the final month of 2015 begins. Players from just two teams (Calgary, Washington) should be avoided for the most part. Here's the rest:
12 teams play a full four-game slate this week, including two teams with the rare four games without a back-to-back. Ranked from weakest to strongest strength of schedule, here are the NHL teams providing the most opportunities for fantasy punch this week:
The Good
1. New Jersey Devils
Despite a lack of goal-scoring (ranked 23rd), nothing about New Jersey's schedule should weigh heavy. Still, Adam Henrique continues to plug away with 19 points in 28 games and John Moore had a big night in Saturday's win. Jiri Tlusty's (shoulder) return is not known.
2. New York Rangers
The Rangers (combined record of 3-0 against this week's opponents) will try to snap their longest losing streak in over a year. It's not guaranteed Antti Raanta will get the nod in the team's back-to-back tilts this week, but if he does he'll likely get the Avs at home considering his road woes. With Derek Stepan (ribs) out indefinitely, the entire Rangers depth chart takes a hit, but fantasy owners could take advantage with players like Oscar Lindberg, J.T. Miller and Kevin Hayes. For now, it appears Hayes will center the team's second line and Emerson Etem will move from playing along his wing, though it is subject to change.
3. Arizona Coyotes
While Arizona, winners in four of their last five, could arguably be favorites to win three, they'll play all four opponents for the first time this week. Shane Doan's (lower body) absence on Saturday opened up the top line to Mikkel Boedker and Tobias Rieder. For now, it appears Anders Lindback has failed to cease his moments (he's allowed at least three goals in his last three outings) and Mike Smith picked up the win against Calgary this past Friday.
The Bad
4. Toronto Maple Leafs
After hosting Edmonton, the Leafs, who have won five of their last 10, head out for three straight, including Winnie and Minnie on back-to-back nights and St. Louis to end the week. James Reimer (lower body) is considered day-to-day, so Garret Sparks has been called up. Perhaps Jonathan Bernier will get the monkey off his back with a win during one of those back-to-back games, but it's entirely possible Bernier was fed to the lions (Capitals) Saturday and Reimer will be back.
5. Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim has four games (all quality teams on paper) at home (5-3-4) and theoretically could start just one goaltender all week. It's unclear whether it will be Anton Khudobin or John Gibson on goal, while Frederik Andersen (illness) should be back soon.
6. Edmonton Oilers
Just like the Ducks, Edmonton will play four contests without a game on consecutive nights, and three of four will be at home. Andrej Sekera has two points in as many games, while Justin Schultz (back) returned in Saturday's win and logged nearly 18 minutes. Anders Nilsson stopped 39 of 41 shots in Saturday's win over Pittsburgh, but Cam Talbot should get at least one start this week.
7. Florida Panthers
Headed into Sunday's matchup with the Red Wings, at 3-4-2 on the road, Florida is still looking for consecutive wins on the road for the first time this season.
8. Ottawa Senators
Ottawa has a tough week ahead, especially when you consider they are much more proficient on the road (7-2-1) than at home, where they'll be this week for three of four games. With Andrew Hammond's (upper body) recovery "stalled," and Craig Anderson trending downward, we should see Chris Driedger make his season debut on Saturday against the Isles.
9. Colorado Avalanche
Don't be alarmed by Colorado's continuing road schedule, as they're much better on the fly (6-7) than at the Pepsi Center (2-6-1). Rather, be alarmed by their 1-5-1 record against the Metropolitan division, who makes up three quarters of their schedule this week. Regardless, Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog are likely to produce under any circumstances. Reto Berra and Semyon Varlamov continue to be inconsistently uninspiring.
10. Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver splits the week with back-to-back games in the metropolitan Los Angeles area before heading home to face two of hockey's hottest teams (Dallas, Boston)
11. New York Islanders
The Islanders will host (7-4-2) three of four, including their first of the year with the rival Rangers. Could this be the week Thomas Greiss takes over the reigns? It's unlikely, or they would have been ranked higher, but its definitely time to start buying into Greiss.
12. Carolina Hurricanes
Saddled with a minus-19 goal differential and the toughest strength of schedule, it will be necessary to avoid most Hurricanes players this week.
3-on-3
The Good
1. Boston Bruins
While most of their victories during their current five-game winning streak have come in close games, the Bruins are 8-2 in road uniforms so far this season and their three opponents are anchoring the bottom of the Pacific division. Players like Frank Vatrano and Ryan Spooner have B's fans thinking quick rebuild.
2. Dallas Stars
Dallas has an almost carbon copy of Boston's schedule. Jamie Benn has 33 shots on goal and 14 points during his current eight-game point streak. Of course, Tyler Seguin is enjoying a streak of the same amount of games. Cody Eakin snapped a four-game point-scoring drought. With Kari Lehtonen (upper body), Antti Niemi will get two of three starts, but Jack Campbell could make his season debut against a younger Edmonton squad rather than a more experienced Vancouver team.
3. Minnesota Wild
Minnesota will host Chicago before heading home for two. Ryan Carter (lower body) missed Saturday's loss to Dallas. Charlie Coyle had a goal and an assist in Saturday's loss. No good deed goes unpunished for Darcy Kuemper, who allowed four goals on 44 shots against the Stars relentless offense, and he will yield to Devan Dubnyk for three games this week.
The Bad
Winnipeg Jets
While Winnipeg has outscored the Hawks and Leafs by a combined scored of 9-5 in two wins, the Jets have won just three of their last 10 games. Add in a Saturday game with the red hot Caps and it could get ugly. Nikolaj Ehlers showed signs of life in Saturday's win with a breakaway goal. Connor Hellebuyck won his NHL debut and could give Michael Hutchinson a push for starts while Ondrej Pavelec (knee) is out. At the very least, the plan will likely be for Hellebuyck to start in Chicago on Sunday.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus has certainly stabilized under the pressure with new head coach John Tortorella, but a tilt with Montreal is ugly enough to include them here, much less Philly after their 3-0 win over the Rangers. As of now, it appears Ryan Johansen is back in a groove. Cam Atkinson has earned a point in seven of his last nine games. Brandon Dubinsky will return on Tuesday after his suspension. Markus Hannikainen left his NHL debut with what was called an upper-body injury.
Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago is 0-2 (5:8 GF:GA) against two of their opponents this week, division rival Minnesota and Winnipeg.
