With just 25 days remaining in the NHL regular season, fantasy managers are laser-focused on schedule hacking to gain edges in head-to-head playoffs. This week’s slate is extreme, swinging from one game on Monday to 15 on Tuesday, then sparse midweek before exploding again. No fewer than 16 teams play only on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, benching talent when you need it most.[1][2]
The New York Rangers stand out with the league’s most favorable timing, playing Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday against the Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks, and Florida Panthers. This positions their under-rostered players for maximum impact on light days. Target overlooked gems here to turn close weekly matchups into wins.
Rangers forwards leading the waiver charge
Alexis Lafreniere has transformed into a scoring machine lately, centering the top line and racking up points with consistency. Available in many leagues, he’s primed for multi-point outbursts against softer defenses like Ottawa and Chicago. His recent hot streak makes him a must-add before the Rangers’ four-game set kicks off.[1]
Rookie Gabe Perreault complements Lafreniere on that top line, flashing NHL readiness with speed and playmaking. As a fresh face, he’s flying under radars but logging quality minutes. Fantasy points from his line could pile up quickly, especially with the Rangers facing tired opponents late in games.
Beyond the top guys, the Rangers’ depth offers streaming value. Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller are likely rostered, but watch for power-play time spilling over. Mike Sullivan’s system maximizes forward production, turning schedule advantages into stat lines.
This mirrors strategies in our recent fantasy pickups roundup on matchup-based adds, where timing trumps talent alone. Rangers skaters could deliver 10-plus fantasy points per game on off-days.
Defenders like Adam Fox dominate rosters, but Vladislav Gavrikov and Braden Schneider provide secondary value. Gavrikov stabilizes the blue line, while Schneider racks up blocked shots in leagues that count them. Against Florida’s high-powered attack, their peripheral stats will shine.
Blackhawks forwards riding a favorable schedule
Frank Nazar emerges as the Blackhawks’ top non-Bedard forward for fantasy, skating heavy minutes and producing steadily. At 72% available, he’s a steal with four goals and six assists in seven games before a brief dip. The Hawks’ Thursday-to-Sunday slate versus Philadelphia, Rangers, and New Jersey offers prime streaming windows.[3]
Connor Bedard owns the spotlight, but Nazar’s role on loaded lines boosts his ceiling. Chicago’s rebuild favors young guns like him, with coach Luke Richardson deploying aggressive forechecks. Expect shots and helpers against Eastern foes.
The Blackhawks’ overall schedule ranks high for fantasy value, per recent analyses. Their games align with league-wide lulls, minimizing bench sits. Pair Nazar with a Rangers pickup for balanced coverage.
As noted in nhlinsight’s power rankings with playoff pickups, teams like Chicago punch above weight in waivers. Nazar’s 1.5 FPPG undervalues his matchup edge.
Other key forwards to monitor
Pavel Zacha of the Boston Bruins posts 1.7 FPPG at 59.6% available, exploding post-Olympic break with eight goals and six assists in 12 games. Boston’s Wednesday versus Buffalo and Sunday against Columbus hit light days perfectly.
Gabriel Landeskog returns strong for Colorado, logging 17-plus minutes and scoring immediately. His value peaks next week with four staggered games, but grab now for Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday versus Pittsburgh and Winnipeg.
Troy Terry dazzles for Anaheim at 1.9 FPPG and 48% available, with three goals and three assists in four games post-injury. The Ducks’ western Canada road trip this week leads to a juicy lookahead slate.
Lookahead to Pittsburgh next week, where Anthony Mantha and Egor Chinakhov could thrive in five games. Penguins face Islanders, Detroit, Tampa, and Florida twice.
Defensemen and goaltenders for depth
Travis Sanheim leads Flyers blue-liners at 1.7 FPPG and 46.5% available, averaging 26 minutes with two goals, three assists, plus-7, and 10 blocks in six games. Philly’s slate includes Columbus, Chicago, Detroit, and Dallas.
Goalie Jet Greaves shines for Columbus at 2.4 FPPG and 61.4% available, going 9-1-2 since January with elite ratios. He’s a stabilizer for playoff pushes.
Justus Annunen impressed for Nashville, stopping 91 of 95 shots in three games for two wins. At 99.5% available, he splits with Saros versus San Jose, New Jersey, Montreal, and Tampa.
Short-term streamers and matchup plays
Stream Ottawa’s Shane Pinto, Tyler Kleven, or Linus Ullmark for Monday-Tuesday versus Rangers and Detroit, then drop midweek. Patrick Kane heats up for Detroit Friday-Saturday versus Buffalo and Philly, with three goals and six assists in eight.
Back-to-backs favor Devils’ Jake Allen and Stars’ Casey DeSmith to close the weekend. These spots maximize short-term upside.
In head-to-head playoffs, schedule mastery separates champions. Prioritize Rangers and Blackhawks forwards like Lafreniere, Perreault, and Nazar to harvest points on barren days. Monitor availability via ESPN’s player rater and adjust weekly—your roster’s survival depends on it.[1]
As the regular season winds down, these pickups could propel you deeper into playoffs. Check daily lines and act fast on waivers.
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Par Mike Jonderson
Mike Jonderson is a passionate hockey analyst and expert in advanced NHL statistics. A former college player and mathematics graduate, he combines his understanding of the game with technical expertise to develop innovative predictive models and contribute to the evolution of modern hockey analytics.