Welcome back to The Oil Rig’s weekly fantasy update! We continue aiming to bring you the information you need to show up your friends and get bragging rights by winning your league.
Each week we provide a schedule breakdown showing which teams to stream players from, who is hot and who is cold, some sleeper picks with low owned percentages to keep an eye on, and some Edmonton Oilers fantasy hockey updates.
Keep checking back on Mondays for a new update each week.
Weekly Schedule
Games per day from October 21 to 27
We’re looking at a super chalk NHL schedule with 39 of 49 games being played on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights. With so few games being played on off-nights it will be very difficult to beat your opponent by way of games played. Most managers will have overflowing lineups on Tuesday and Saturday action.
Monday – 1
Tuesday – 16
Wednesday – 1
Thursday – 9
Friday – 4
Saturday – 14
Sunday – 4
Keep these resources at the top of your season long tool list. Use them to guide the transactions that you make. These become more valuable as the season goes on and teams establish themselves in overall power rankings.
https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/nhl-weekly-schedule
Left wing lock – Strength of Schedule
Three teams play two times this week:
- Buffalo Sabres
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Vancouver Canucks
Five teams play four times this week:
- Detroit Red Wings
- New Jersey Devils
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Toronto Maple Leafs
Off-day tracking
The Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, and Philadelphia Flyers play two of their respective games on off-nights. Players from these teams represent the best opportunity for extra games played.
Back-to-back tracking
Twelve teams play on back-to-back nights this week. Use teams to plan for backup goaltender appearances in Week 2 action.
Anaheim – Sat, Sun
Chicago – Fri, Sat
Detroit – Sat, Sun
Montreal – Sat, Sun
Nashville – Fri, Sat
New Jersey – Thu, Fri
New York Islanders – Fri, Sat
Philadelphia – Tue, Wed
Tampa Bay – Mon, Tue
Toronto – Mon, Tue
Vegas – Fri, Sat
Washington – Tue, Wed
Strength of schedule
Easy schedules
Columbus – TOR/NSH
Dallas – BUF/BOS/CHI
Detroit – NYI/NJD/BUF/EDM
Edmonton – CAR/PIT/DET
Utah – OTT/COL/LAK
Vegas – LAK/OTT/SJS
Utah – NJD/ANA/BOS
Difficult schedules
Calgary – PIT/CAR/WPG
Florida – MIN/NYR/NYI
St Louis – WPG/TOR/MTL
Tampa Bay -TOR/NJD/MIN/WSH
Winnipeg – STL/SEA/CGY
Who’s hot?
Anton Lundell (C,RW) – Florida Panthers
Lundell posted 4G, 3A during week 2 action while maintaining a +3 rating. Sam Bennett was initially thought to be the biggest benefactor of the Barkov injury, but was outplayed by Lundell. The 22-year-old center showed us why the Panthers invested $30M into his career this off-season.
Tom Wilson (RW) – Washington Capitals
He’s known as one of the leagues toughest competitors but has shown off his offensive capabilities scoring 5G in 4GP this season. Wilson is arguably the Capitals best player making his 42% ownership rating look like a misprint. Add in his 13HIT and 7BLK this season and he’s a well rounded addition to any fantasy roster.
Jake Sanderson (D) – Ottawa Senators
Sanderson is immediately living up to his eight-year contract with the Senators. So far, this year, he’s posted 1G, 6A, 6HIT, 18BLK with five of his seven points coming on the man advantage. Sanderson plays a rare NHL role operating on the Senators top PP & PK units. Look for him to log top 10 minutes across the entire NHL in 2024–25.
Kevin Lankinen (G) – Vancouver Canucks
Lankinen is playing some of the leagues best hockey while filling in the for injured Thatcher Demko, this season. His recent shutout of the Philadelphia Flyers has him in the NHL spotlight and should assure him of the Canucks starting goalie role ahead of team mate Arturs Silovs.
Who’s cold?
Nashville Predators players
After adding Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei this off-season, the predators are now 0–5. By record, they are the worst team in the NHL. Worse yet, they’ve scored a league low 10 goals and are second worst with a -13 goal differential.
Streaming candidates for the week
Ross Colton (C,LW) – Colorado Avalanche – 48% Owned
Colton came in as my top streaming recommendation entering Week 2 action. He hasn’t disappointed us now contributing 5G, 13SOG and 8HIT over his past 3GP. His 3.41 ixG and 17 HDCF are good for fifth and tied second across the NHL. His ownership has deservingly risen from 3% to 48% and it has room to rise from here. Be sure he isn’t available on your league waivers going into Week 3 action.
Vladimir Tarasenko (LW,RW) – Detroit Red Wings – 25% Owned
The Red Wings play four times and have a one of the leagues easiest schedules during Week 3 action. While the former 40G scorer isn’t at the same level that he used to be, he’s scoring on 15.4% of shots taken while skating on the Red Wings top line along side Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond.
Jordan Eberle (RW) – Seattle Kraken – 11% Owned
Eberle has scored 5G on the season including markers in each of his last 3GP. The Kraken have scored 22 times on the year under his leadership and he’s been a major reason why. Eberle is currently scoring on an absurd 55.5% of his shots taken and ranks eighth in HDCF.
Philip Broberg (D) – St Louis Blues – 18% Owned
Broberg has contributed one point in each of his 6GP to start the new chapter of his career with St Louis. His +6 rating is tied fourth amongst NHL defencemen and his ice time has deservingly increased.
Jake Allen (G) – New Jersey Devils – 18% Owned
The Devils are the top team in the NHL with 11 points across eight games. The play four times on the week including back-to-back games on Thursday and Friday nights. Allen hasn’t seen any action since shutting out Utah back on October 14. It shouldn’t come a surprise if he gets two of the four available starts on the week. The veteran goaltender has posted a 0.50 GAA and .974SV% with a 2–0 record during the young 2024–25 season.
Thanks for checking back in with us ahead of Week 3 action. With only 10 games being played on off-nights this week you’ll need to get creative to gain a leg up on your competition. Consider Week 3 a good time to start sending out trade offers for players with positive regression expected.
