Fantasy Hockey 2025-26: Weekly Strength of Schedule and Streaming Targets — Week 21
Finding an edge in fantasy hockey often comes down to maximizing your man games — and targeting players with favourable matchups. Our Fantasy Hockey Strength of Schedule tool helps you do precisely that.
Each week, we evaluate every NHL team’s upcoming slate using three key factors:
- Games Played: More games mean more opportunities for fantasy points.
- Strength of Schedule (SOS): Based on opponent difficulty, the higher the score, the easier the matchups.
- Light Nights: Nights with eight or fewer NHL games, when it’s easier to fit extra players into your active lineup.
By combining these three components, the tool highlights which teams — and streamers — are best positioned for fantasy success this week.
If you’re looking for a full breakdown of every team’s upcoming schedule, check out our Fantasy Hockey Strength of Schedule Tool — updated daily to show which teams have the most games and valuable light-night matchups each week.
Week 21 Strength of Schedule
Week 21 Streaming Targets
Week 21 features an extremely balanced schedule, with no day having more than 11 games or fewer than five. That means most managers should have open lineup spots nearly every day, making traditional “light nights” largely irrelevant this week.
Because of that, the focus will be on teams that play four games during the week. As always, though, it’s worth looking ahead at your lineup to make sure you have space on the busier nights — which this week are Thursday (11 games) and Saturday (11 games).
If you do have open spots on those nights, don’t worry too much about schedule optimization. Just add the best players available on your waiver wire, regardless of when their games fall.
- Teams are in order of Avg Opponent Rating in Week 21
- Players are in order of Roster%
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes have the second-easiest 4-game schedule of the week and, importantly, they don’t play on Thursday or Saturday, making it easy to fit their players into your lineup.
Jackson Blake (CAR – RW – 10% Rostered)
It wouldn’t be a streaming article without mentioning Blake. He’s probably appeared here more than any other player this season — productive enough to be a strong streamer, but not quite consistent enough to be a long-term hold.
Since the Olympic break, Blake has seven points (3G, 4A) in nine games, while averaging 2.6 SOG and 4.9 shot attempts per game. The shot volume is the real appeal here. If he continues to see around 17 minutes per night, the production should follow, especially with Carolina’s favourable matchups this week.
New York Islanders
The Islanders have the third-easiest schedule among teams with four games this week, but they play on both Thursday and Saturday, so make sure you have open lineup spots before adding any Islanders skaters.
Emil Heineman (NYI – LW/RW – 19% Rostered)
Heineman might be difficult to find in banger formats, where his 3.2 hits per game make him uber valuable, but he should still be available in many standard leagues.
He’s currently skating on the top line with Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal, and the trio has produced excellent underlying numbers together. At 5v5, they’re averaging an elite 3.96 xGF/60, while controlling 61.6% of shot attempts and 61.7% of scoring chances.
Pair that level of territorial dominance with Heineman’s shot volume and there’s clear upside. Over his last five games, he’s averaging 3.0 SOG and 5.0 shot attempts, scoring three goals during that stretch.
Anders Lee (NYI – LW – 16% Rostered)
Lee offers a similar shot-volume profile to Heineman, averaging 3.1 SOG and 5.7 shot attempts per game since the Olympic break. He’s turned that into four goals, though he hasn’t recorded an assist since February 3.
Lee is a solid fallback option if Heineman is unavailable. The profile is similar, though he lacks the added ceiling that comes from playing alongside Horvat and Barzal at 5v5.
Brayden Schenn (NYI – C/LW – 15% Rostered)
The Islanders are still searching for the right linemates for Schenn. Since arriving from St. Louis, he’s spent time alongside Calum Ritchie, Ondrej Palat, Mathew Barzal, Simon Holmstrom, and Anthony Duclair.
In four games with the Islanders, he’s recorded two assists while averaging 1.8 SOG, 3.5 shot attempts, and 2.3 hits per game. His value leans more toward banger formats, where the hit volume provides a stronger floor.
Boston Bruins
The Bruins have the sixth-easiest average opponent rating among teams with four games this week. Like the Islanders, they also play on both Thursday and Saturday, so look ahead before adding any Bruins.
Pavel Zacha (BOS – C/LW – 32% Rostered)
Zacha has been excellent since the Olympic break, recording nine points (4G, 5A) in nine games.
He’s a player who needs points to remain fantasy-relevant because his peripheral floor is limited. In March, he’s averaging 3.7 shot attempts per game, but only 1.9 are hitting the net. Still, with top-six minutes and PP1 usage, Zacha should continue to generate scoring chances with some favourable matchups ahead.
Viktor Arvidsson (BOS – LW/RW – 16% Rostered)
Arvidsson has matched Zacha’s production since the Olympic break with nine points (4G, 5A), but provides a slightly safer floor.
During that span, he’s averaging 2.0 SOG and 4.6 shot attempts per game, which is actually a bit below his season averages (2.6 SOG, 5.4 shot attempts). Without PP1 exposure, his ceiling isn’t quite as high as Zacha’s, but the shot volume gives him a more reliable floor.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus has the seventh-ranked 4-game schedule this week, but open with a tough matchup vs. the Hurricanes on Tuesday. They also play on both Thursday and Saturday.
Mason Marchment (CBJ – LW – 25% Rostered)
Marchment exploded out of the gate with 16 points (10G, 6A) in his first 16 games with Columbus, but he has cooled recently with four points (1G, 3A) over his last eight games.
Even during the quieter stretch, the usage remains strong — over 19 minutes per game — along with solid shot and hit volume. Looking at his full Blue Jackets sample, he’s tracking toward a 38-goal, 68-point, 154-shot, 96-hit pace over 82 games.
His 24.4% shooting percentage won’t hold forever, but it could stay hot for another week.
Sean Monahan (CBJ – C – 22% Rostered)
Monahan endured a rough stretch from early December to mid-January, posting just six points (1G, 5A) in 17 games, but he’s heating back up.
He’s recorded six points (2G, 4A) in his last eight games, and more importantly, the shot volume has improved. That’s been hard to come by for Monahan this season, but in March he’s averaging 3.0 SOG and 3.9 shot attempts per game, which raises both his floor and scoring potential.
Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo heads out west this week to face Vegas, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Anaheim. Those late-week games are especially appealing for fantasy managers, particularly with the Sabres playing some of the best hockey in the NHL right now.
Josh Doan (BUF – LW/RW – 29% Rostered)
Doan has had a strong debut season with Buffalo and has continued to play well since the Olympic break. He has just five points (3G, 2A) in 10 games, but the underlying volume remains excellent, averaging 2.7 SOG and 5.0 shot attempts per game.
More importantly, Doan leads all Sabres skaters with 4.77 individual expected goals (ixG) during that stretch. He’s generating a ton of scoring chances, and if that continues, the production could start to catch up quickly.
Jason Zucker (BUF – LW – 11% Rostered)
Zucker sits just behind Doan with 4.67 ixG since the Olympic break and actually leads the Sabres in scoring chances (45) and high-danger chances (26) during that span.
If those opportunities keep coming, there’s reason to believe his recent production will continue. Zucker enters Week 21 with seven points (5G, 2A) in his last seven games, while averaging 2.7 SOG, 4.6 shot attempts, and 1.0 hits per game.
Jack Quinn (BUF – RW – 7% Rostered)
Quinn doesn’t generate quite as many chances from the high-danger areas as Doan or Zucker, but his shot volume has been outstanding.
Over his last 14 games, Quinn is averaging 5.4 shot attempts per game, hitting the net 2.8 times per game. Zooming out even further, he has quietly recorded 22 points (9G, 13A) in his last 25 games, which translates to a 30-goal, 43-assist (73-point) pace over 82 games.
That level of production is very similar to the full-season profile Wyatt Johnston posted last year, which is pretty good company to keep.
Nashville Predators
As we move down the list to Nashville, we start getting into teams with below-average matchups this week. The Predators’ average opponent rating ranks 18th overall, though they still sit ninth among teams playing four games.
Jonathan Marchessault (NSH – RW – 14% Rostered)
Marchessault hasn’t scored in six games and has just two goals in his last 15, but the underlying numbers suggest better days could be ahead.
Since the Olympic break, he leads all Predators skaters with 4.28 individual expected goals (ixG). With top-six minutes and PP1 usage, Marchessault continues to get quality opportunities, and the production could start to follow if that trend continues.
Luke Evangelista (NSH – RW – 11% Rostered)
Evangelista was promoted back to the top line with Ryan O’Reilly and Steven Stamkos on Sunday — a trio that probably shouldn’t be split up.
The line has produced excellent underlying numbers, averaging 3.65 xGF/60 while controlling 64.7% of the scoring chances and 70.8% of the high-danger chances together.
Evangelista has gone pointless in his last four games, but prior to that he recorded 16 points (3G, 13A) in 16 games. He’s not a prolific goal scorer, but playing alongside O’Reilly and Stamkos should give him plenty of opportunities to collect points this week.
Matthew Wood (NSH – RW – 3% Rostered)
Wood has bounced around the Predators’ lineup this season, but recent trade deadline moves have opened the door for him to see time as the second-line center over the past couple of weeks.
Since the Olympic break, he has seven points (5G, 2A) in nine games, while also posting strong underlying metrics alongside Filip Forsberg. If he continues to hold that role, Wood could be a sneaky deep-league streaming option this week.
Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago’s schedule is a tough one this week, with two matchups against Minnesota, along with games against Colorado and Nashville to close things out.
Frank Nazar (CHI – C – 15% Rostered)
Nazar has started to heat up offensively, recording eight points (3G, 5A) in his last six games.
That production has been fueled by a 23.1% shooting percentage, which is a bad combination with modest shot volume (2.2 SOG and 3.2 shot attempts per game). Still, Nazar is playing big minutes for Chicago and has firmly established himself as the team’s next offensive option behind Connor Bedard, giving him some streaming appeal while he’s hot.
New York Rangers
The Rangers don’t have the most favourable matchups this week, but there’s a strategic advantage to streaming them now: you won’t have to burn a pickup on them next week, when they could be the best streaming team in fantasy.
Week 22 features three days with two or fewer games and three days with 13+ games, meaning light-night games will be extremely valuable. The Rangers play all four of their games next week on light nights, and no other team has more than two. Planning ahead here could give you a significant edge.
Alexis Lafrenière (NYR – LW/RW – 37% Rostered)
Lafrenière has started to look much more like a first-overall pick, recording 15 points (9G, 6A) in his last 11 games.
With the Rangers moving pieces ahead of the trade deadline, Lafrenière has taken on a larger role, averaging 19 minutes per game over his last eight. Even with J.T. Miller returning to the lineup, Lafrenière remained on PP1, making him the top streaming target in New York right now.
Gabe Perreault (NYR – RW – 6% Rostered)
Perreault remains on the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Lafrenière, though he was bumped from PP1 after Miller’s return.
Still, as long as he continues to see big minutes alongside that top line, the opportunities should be there. Perreault enters Week 21 with 10 points (4G, 6A) in his last seven games, and he could become an even stronger streaming option next week when the Rangers’ schedule becomes extremely favourable.
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings have a tough set of matchups this week, but they’ve suddenly started to generate more offense and have several viable streaming options available on the waiver wire.
Alex Laferriere (C/LW/RW – 38% Rostered)
Laferriere’s roster percentage is elevated because he’s a banger-league stud, but he’s still available in many standard formats.
His recent shot volume has been outstanding, averaging 7.1 shot attempts per game, with 3.3 shots on goal per game. That volume has resulted in three goals over his last eight games, and if it continues, Laferriere should remain a legitimate scoring threat this week.
Anze Kopitar (LAK – C – 29% Rostered)
Kopitar has heated up in March, recording seven points (4G, 3A) in seven games.
Over the weekend, he also became the Kings’ all-time leading scorer, and he’ll look to keep the momentum going this week. Historically, the knock on Kopitar for fantasy purposes has been his shot volume, but that has jumped significantly in March, averaging 2.7 SOG and 5.4 shot attempts per game. That added volume makes him a much more appealing streaming option than usual.
Trevor Moore (LW/RW – 1% Rostered)
Moore is more of a deep-league streaming option, but the underlying numbers are encouraging.
Since the Olympic break, he’s averaging 3.5 SOG and 6.4 shot attempts per game, fueled by increased usage. The production hasn’t fully caught up yet, but if he continues generating that level of shot volume, he has a good chance to find the scoresheet this week.
Dallas Stars
We’re starting to get into teams with brutal matchup spreads. Dallas does have four games, but the opponents aren’t particularly appealing: Utah, Colorado, Minnesota, and Vegas.
Mavrik Bourque (C/RW – 12% Rostered)
Bourque has been excellent for the Stars over the last six weeks, recording 13 points (5G, 8A) in his last 13 games.
He continues to skate on the top line with Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson, a trio that has posted excellent offensive metrics together. As long as Bourque remains in that role, he offers high upside as a streaming option, even if his floor is somewhat limited.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh’s matchup slate is brutal this week. They face Colorado once and Carolina twice, which usually isn’t a recipe for offensive production. Still, there are a couple of intriguing streaming options worth considering.
Anthony Mantha (PIT – LW/RW – 36% Rostered)
It’s honestly surprising that Mantha is still rostered in fewer than 40% of leagues. He’s been on a heater since mid-January, recording 21 points (11G, 10A) in 19 games.
During that stretch, he’s tied for seventh in the NHL in goals and tied for 21st in points. In most competitive leagues he’s probably already gone, but if he happens to be available in your league — and he still is in over 60% of leagues — he’s an easy add.
Egor Chinakhov (PIT – LW/RW – 9% Rostered)
Chinakhov has also been rolling since joining the Penguins. Over his last 18 games, he’s recorded 17 points (8G, 9A), producing at nearly a point-per-game pace.
He’s also averaging over 5.0 shot attempts per game during that span, giving him a solid floor to go along with the offensive upside. The matchups this week are undeniably difficult, but if you’re willing to look past that, Chinakhov still profiles as a strong streaming option.
Edmonton Oilers
Matt Savoie (EDM – C/RW – 5% Rostered)
Savoie is the only player on this list who doesn’t have four games this week, but the reasoning is simple: he’s currently playing alongside Connor McDavid at 5v5.
The combination has worked well enough that head coach Kris Knoblauch appears committed to keeping them together. In fact, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins skated on the third line last night, and after the game Knoblauch suggested RNH could shift to the second line to replace the injured Leon Draisaitl — a move that would keep Savoie with McDavid.
It’s still a small sample, but in two games alongside McDavid and Zach Hyman, Savoie has two points (1G, 1A) and seven shots on goal. The trio has also generated 3.57 xGF/60 at 5v5, which makes this a situation worth buying into while it lasts.