This article is part of our Schedule Analysis series.
Welcome back fantasy owners! While it was nice to get a little break from daily roster setting, we missed nightly games as much as you did. Although the league will not actually resume action until Tuesday, there are still six days in the week to get your second half started off with a bang.
Four Aces
With the majority of the league (22 teams) playing your average three-game schedule, fantasy owners will want to avoid the three teams (Los Angeles, Tampa Bay, Vancouver) playing just a pair of tilts and pack the most punch by utilizing players who will be action four of the six days this week. Ranked from strongest to weakest, here's the schedule breakdown of those five teams:
1. Washington Capitals
Statistically the league's best home ice advantage, the Caps play three of four at the Verizon Center this week and three against divisional rivals. They're outscoring this week's opponents 20-15 this season.
Combined record of 4-1-1 against this week's opponents
2. Philadelphia Flyers
Originally I planned on ranking the Flyers the fifth and final team of this week's four-game teams. Regardless of the fact that they will face four of the NHL's strongest teams on paper, they have simply enjoyed too much success against this week's opponents to bet against them.
Combined record of 5-1-1 against this week's opponents
3. Edmonton Oilers
Playing three of four teams (save for a 4-3 win over Montreal) for the first time this season provides a bit of a blindfold
Welcome back fantasy owners! While it was nice to get a little break from daily roster setting, we missed nightly games as much as you did. Although the league will not actually resume action until Tuesday, there are still six days in the week to get your second half started off with a bang.
Four Aces
With the majority of the league (22 teams) playing your average three-game schedule, fantasy owners will want to avoid the three teams (Los Angeles, Tampa Bay, Vancouver) playing just a pair of tilts and pack the most punch by utilizing players who will be action four of the six days this week. Ranked from strongest to weakest, here's the schedule breakdown of those five teams:
1. Washington Capitals
Statistically the league's best home ice advantage, the Caps play three of four at the Verizon Center this week and three against divisional rivals. They're outscoring this week's opponents 20-15 this season.
Combined record of 4-1-1 against this week's opponents
2. Philadelphia Flyers
Originally I planned on ranking the Flyers the fifth and final team of this week's four-game teams. Regardless of the fact that they will face four of the NHL's strongest teams on paper, they have simply enjoyed too much success against this week's opponents to bet against them.
Combined record of 5-1-1 against this week's opponents
3. Edmonton Oilers
Playing three of four teams (save for a 4-3 win over Montreal) for the first time this season provides a bit of a blindfold to their week. The Oilers entered the break on a three-game losing streak and are 6-16-4 on the road, where they play three of four this week. The prodigy, Connor McDavid, returns and should pay dividends to any fantasy owner who has remained patient. It should be interesting to see how the week plays out for Oilers fans.
Combined record of 1-0 against this week's opponents
4. New York Islanders
The Isles have a pretty weak strength of schedule this week. After losing four of their first six out of last season's All-Star break, the Isles turned things up a notch, winning four straight and seven of their first 10 games in February.
Combined record of 0-2 against this week's opponents
5. Montreal Canadiens
While the news of Carey Price's setback could cause a continuance of Montreal's disappointing season, the Canadiens play some pretty weak competition as well. That said, two straight losses to Columbus as they went into the break and four games, all on back-to-back nights, suggest all normalcy is off the table. While the back-to-backs should provide an opportunity for fantasy owners to stream goaltenders, after posting a 7-3 record in back-to-backs through the first two months of the season, do so with care, as the Canadiens are just 4-12 in games on consecutive nights since December.
Combined record of 1-3 against this week's opponents
Three of a Kind
Here is the three best and three worst schedules of teams playing three times this week:
Hold'Em
1. Arizona Coyotes
Right out of the break, we will find out if Arizona has what it takes to remain in the thick of things. At first glance, perhaps you're only licking your chops at their matchup with Anaheim, but they have enjoyed great success and production against all three teams they'll face this season.
Combined record of 6-1-1 against this week's opponents
2. Carolina Hurricanes
Not exactly turning heads anywhere they play, much-less on the road where they are a mediocre 11-11-3, Carolina has somehow managed to play most teams tightly this season, including two of this week's opponents, Calgary and Montreal.
Combined record of 2-0 against this week's opponents
3. Ottawa Senators
Losers in four of their first five out of the break last season, Ottawa isn't exactly a great bet. Other than an awakening Pittsburgh squad, Ottawa has the moxie to stand tall against Edmonton and Toronto.
Combined record of 1-0 against this week's opponents
Fold' Em
28. Florida Panthers
Easily the NHL's most surprising division leader when the league headed to Nashville, the Panthers, who lost seven out of 11 coming out of last year's All-Star break, will now have to prove they have the staying power. Although they are certainly a lot more disciplined and balanced this season, and their combined record against this week's opponent is unblemished, I still think they'll be in for a tough week against team's with elite talent.
Combined record of 2-0-2 against this week's opponents
29. New Jersey Devils
Teetering between tee time and spring hockey, the Devils have a gut check against two divisional rivals (Washington, Rangers) and a sputtering Maple Leafs squad.
Combined record of 1-1-1 against this week's opponents
30. Anaheim Ducks
Having won three straight heading into the break, it's plausible to ignore the fact they've been outscored 15-9 in their previous contests with this week's opponents, but I'm not so sure the Ducks come out of the break as they went in.
Combined record of 2-4-1 against this week's opponents
The Flop
Underscoring the most intriguing daily matchups:
Tuesday - Probably one of the most pressing questions of the second half will be if the Stars (3-6-1 over their last 10) can maintain striking distance of the division-leading Blackhawks. After losing three of four to division-rival Winnipeg one year ago, the high-powered Stars offense has outscored the Jets 8-4 en route to a 2-0 series lead this season. It's worth noting the Stars only win (5-2) last season against Winnipeg also came just shortly after the break in Manitoba.
Wednesday - A slow night (three games) but all three matchups could prove to be high-scoring affairs, as Tampa Bay is the only team in action not ranked in the bottom 11 of the league in goals allowed. It may be wise to go with Ben Bishop and play the career splits on the other five teams.
Thursday - Arizona and Chicago combined for 12 goals in their first matchup of the season; also a good bet will be Jaden Schwartz against the Sharks. Hopefully he'll shake off the rust against Nashville and pick up where he left off (goal, five points in two games) against San Jose last season.
Friday - We already went over Anaheim's new leaf above, but is there anything that could possibly cause you not to invest in the host Yotes against the Ducks? Arizona is outscoring Anaheim 12-5 and leading the series 3-0-1 this season.
Saturday - The Wild will be ending a quick, but long (mileage) road trip with a trip against the Blues. While you might think it will be ugly for a mediocre road team like Minnesota to drag into St. Louis, the Wild have enjoyed a 2-0-1 record (8:6 GF:GA) in a tight season series with the Blues.
Sunday - After overwhelming (11:2 GF:GA) in three victories last season, thanks to two goals by Jeff Skinner and 31 saves by Cam Ward in their early-December meeting, Carolina owns the only win in this season series so far.
