This week, 17 teams are set to play four games or more, making it a great opportunity for fantasy hockey managers to capitalize on players with favorable matchups. Listed below are three teams that not only have a loaded schedule but also feature players who could increase your playoff chances heading into the Christmas break.
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Top NHL Schedules for Week 11 Fantasy Hockey
New York Rangers
It’s extremely rare for an NHL team to play five games in seven days, but the New York Rangers have the opportunity to not only pick up 10 points but also help fantasy hockey managers bolster their lineup for the week. Despite having two back-to-back matchups scheduled, the Rangers will play three of the NHL’s weakest teams by next Sunday. The Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, and Nashville Predators are all on deck for New York, and managers shouldn’t hesitate to take advantage.
Alexis Lafreniere is likely the available forward on waivers in most leagues, and though he’s been streaky as of late, he’s still playing nearly 20 minutes a night and could explode in New York’s top six. Otherwise, Will Cuylle and Vincent Trocheck are strong forward options if available.
Utah Mammoth
Although the Utah Mammoth will play against stiff competition this week, fantasy managers need to take note of the makeup of their schedule. Utah is one of the few teams that plays on the nights with the least amount of games this week, which would allow owners to start their players without any conflicts in their roster.
JJ Peterka is finally starting to find himself on the scoresheet again and is definitely the best forward option on the team. However, for managers looking to target peripheral stats, Jack McBain and Lawson Crouse have been useful for hits and blocks while scoring the odd point.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins have dropped their last four games, two of which were devastating overtime losses, but their offense should be rolling this week, given the strength of their opponents’ defense. The Pens kick off the week against the Edmonton Oilers before playing back-to-back games against the Montreal Canadiens this weekend. Heading into week 11, both teams are in the top three for worst goals against in the league. Additionally, they play the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, a team that has struggled to find consistent goaltending.
Pittsburgh is currently finding scoring from both their offensive and defensive players. Where Bryan Rust and Anthony Mantha remain solid choices for forward depth, Kris Letang has proven to collect points while adding peripheral value. Moreover, Letang has been consistently producing on Pittsburgh’s second power-play unit this month.
Outside of the teams listed above, the Dallas Stars and Boston Bruins are also considerable rosters to choose from. Make sure to stay tuned for more fantasy hockey schedule advice this month to help your team capitalize on weekly matchups.
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