This article is part of our Schedule Analysis series.
For the next two weeks, 11 of the NHL's 30 teams will play AT LEAST (*see Pittsburgh's five-game schedule next week) four games a week.
Four Aces
As always, it's best to avoid players on teams (Chicago, Colorado, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Vancouver) playing two games or less. In contrast, ranked by strength of schedule (courtesy of leftwinglock.com), here are the teams playing four games this week:
1. Los Angeles Kings
Forget the Kings' 5-1-1 combined record against this week's opponents for a second, as most of that comes from a 3-0 season series lead over Edmonton. More enticing is Los Angeles' fourth-ranked power play taking on the league's worst penalty kill in Calgary on Tuesday.
2. Arizona Coyotes
With the trade deadline looming, a week full of opponents they'll play for the first time this season and Mike Smith traveling with the team, it's fair to assume it's do-or-die week for a Coyotes team still bubbling outside of the Western Conference wild card standings.
3. San Jose Sharks
Arguably still one of the best on the road, the Sharks will play three of four where they are at their best. Add in their 4-1 combined record against this week's opponents and it should be a fine week for Sharks players.
4. Boston Bruins
While the Bruins have been a bit better at home in recent weeks, their record at TD Garden (12-14-3), where they play three of four this week, doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Still, they are 4-0 against Columbus
For the next two weeks, 11 of the NHL's 30 teams will play AT LEAST (*see Pittsburgh's five-game schedule next week) four games a week.
Four Aces
As always, it's best to avoid players on teams (Chicago, Colorado, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Vancouver) playing two games or less. In contrast, ranked by strength of schedule (courtesy of leftwinglock.com), here are the teams playing four games this week:
1. Los Angeles Kings
Forget the Kings' 5-1-1 combined record against this week's opponents for a second, as most of that comes from a 3-0 season series lead over Edmonton. More enticing is Los Angeles' fourth-ranked power play taking on the league's worst penalty kill in Calgary on Tuesday.
2. Arizona Coyotes
With the trade deadline looming, a week full of opponents they'll play for the first time this season and Mike Smith traveling with the team, it's fair to assume it's do-or-die week for a Coyotes team still bubbling outside of the Western Conference wild card standings.
3. San Jose Sharks
Arguably still one of the best on the road, the Sharks will play three of four where they are at their best. Add in their 4-1 combined record against this week's opponents and it should be a fine week for Sharks players.
4. Boston Bruins
While the Bruins have been a bit better at home in recent weeks, their record at TD Garden (12-14-3), where they play three of four this week, doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Still, they are 4-0 against Columbus and Pittsburgh, so focus in on those games and go from there.
5. Carolina Hurricanes
The Canes play their best hockey at home, but they've been snake bitten in overtime by the Flyers thrice this season. Push.
6. Washington Capitals
The Capitals are one of three teams this week playing four games without a back-to-back. That said, I highly doubt Braden Holtby draws all four nods this week, as he's beginning to wear down a little this month. Still, the Caps are outscoring their opponents this week (save for Arizona) 14-7 this season.
7. Nashville Predators
Teetering on the brink of a cild card, the Preds are going to have to show more fight (at least from Ryan Johansen) on the road (12-11-6) to stay in the playoff picture. They'll certainly get their chance this week, with three of four in white jerseys. Though I'm not sure it would matter where they play Central division rivals Chicago (1-3, 9:12 GF:GA) and St. Louis (0-3-1, 4:11 GF:GA), perhaps they can steal a couple of wins against their Eastern Conference opponents on back-to-back nights. However, that doesn't seem likely either, as the Preds are 5-9 during back-to-back tilts this season. It could be a long week for owners of Preds players.
8. St. Louis Blues
The Blues have seemingly figured out the Preds this season. Ok, so why are they ranked lower than the Preds in LWL's strength of schedule? They're being outscored by a combined total of 13-5 by their other three opponents this week.
9. Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers had two blowouts against the Eastern Conference (7-2 over Ottawa, 8-1 loss to Islanders) on their east coast trip earlier this month. In between those home games, Edmonton will also travel to play two division rivals (Anaheim, Los Angeles) on the road on back-to-back nights, both of which they have struggled against, combining for a 1-5 record this season. It will likely be a tough week for Oilers players.
10. Columbus Blue Jackets
After going 2-1-2 during their recent home stand, Columbus heads back out on the road for two games on back-to-back nights and three of four against Atlantic division teams. The most interesting should be their tilt against New Jersey, as they lead the season series (2-0, 5:2 GF:GA) quite handily.
11. Minnesota Wild
Winners of three straight, the Wild will play Eastern Conference teams exclusively, all four they have had small-sample (combined record of 0-3-1) problems with this season.
The Flop
In the flop, we underscore the most intriguing matchup of each night this week.
VALUE PICK: available in FA pool for streaming and/or decent DFS pricing
BACK UP ALERT: denotes teams playing on the the front end of a back-to-back, giving you an opportunity to possibly pick up a spot start out of the FA pools in standard leagues.
ADDITIONAL OUTLOOK: Another game trend spotlighted
Monday - While I'm a firm believer in the Coyotes' youth movement and think they'll put up a good fight in their first stop of a five-game road trip in Washington on Monday, their 27th-ranked penalty-kill unit against the league's best power play leave little chance of an Arizona victory. Whether Mike Smith returns or not, the way both teams can score (Arizona has 14 goals in the last three games), take the over on at least eights goals combined between the two teams.
VALUE PICK: Available in most standard formats and fairly priced in DFS, five of Martin Hanzal's 10 points over the last 12 games have come on the man advantage.
BACK UP ALERT: Arizona, Columbus, Nashville
Tuesday - Looking for good value PPP (power-play points), look to Los Angeles playing the league's worst penalty-kill unit, Calgary. The team's leading power-play goal scorer, Tyler Toffli, has 11 points in 13 games on Tuesday nights.
ADDITIONAL OUTLOOK: Dallas is not only leading the season series 3-0 over Central division foes Winnipeg, but they're outscoring the Jets 13-7 in those previous meetings. I don't see any reason for this first game of a home-and-home will go any differently. Antoine Roussel (plus-5 with eight points in 17 games) has some of his best nights on Tuesday.
Wednesday - With both Pittsburgh and Boston reclaiming their positions near the top half of the conference standings, it will be interesting to see how this one plays out. That said, Boston has had the Penguins' number (2-0, 9:2 GF:GA) in their two previous matchups this season. Ryan Spooner (goal and six points) and Frank Vatrano (three goals) represent most of the production in the two wins over Pittsburgh.
Thursday - Imagine fall-out from Tuesday's ADDITIONAL OUTLOOK, only with the Stars at home where they are even stronger. Other than the usual suspects (Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, John Klingberg), Jason Spezza enjoys a more than point-per-game pace (44 points in 37 games) against Winnipeg.
BACK UP ALERT: Carolina, Edmonton, Minnesota, New Jersey
Friday - As noted above, Boston will have a busy schedule. After fighting with the Pens on Wednesday at home, they travel to Carolina for their first meeting of the season with the Hurricanes and third game in five nights, leading me to believe their recent scoring surges could be taken down a notch. Although the Bruins handled the 'Canes quite easily last year (2-0-1), they had a slight edge in a very defensive minded (5-4) series one year ago. It's plausible that could carry over.
BACK UP ALERT: Buffalo
Saturday - No, the Canadiens are not the overwhelming squad we're used to. But the Leafs, losers in nine of their last 13 games, are the usual under-whelming squad and have not beaten Montreal on their home-ice since 2013.
VALUE PICK: David Desharnais has two goals in three games against Toronto this season.
BACK UP ALERT: Los Angeles, Minnesota, St. Louis.
Sunday - To suggest the Islanders have a lot to fight for is an understatement. First, an 8-1 win over Edmonton earlier this month and, of course, get the ship righted as the Isles try to stay with the crowded Eastern Conference wild card standings. While I foresee another high-scoring affair, it's unlikely to be as one-sided as their last.
BACK UP ALERT: San Jose, Tampa Bay
