Our Weekend Streamers series aims to help you steal your matchup by getting the most value possible out of the limited transactions in your fantasy league. Every Friday, we break down the teams and skaters with the most streamer-friendly schedules over the weekend.
This weekend features five games on Friday, 12 on Saturday, and four on Sunday. There are three teams playing on both Friday and Sunday this weekend, so let’s get into it. Happy streaming!
Nashville Predators–@ CGY (Fri), @ VAN (Sun)
The Predator you need to check your wire for first is Gustav Nyquist (LW – 18% owned). Nyquist is seeing time on Nashville’s second line with Colton Sissons and Jonathan Marchessault, while also featuring on the second power-play unit. His upside is capped by a lack of exposure to Filip Forsberg and Steven Stamkos, but our options are limited this weekend and Nyquist is still playing over 17 minutes a night. Given his current role, he’s not the 75-point player he was a season ago, but he is still a decent bet to find the scoresheet this weekend.
If you’re looking to stuff some defensive categories this weekend, look no further than the Predators’ blue line. Jeremy Lauzon (27% owned) is second in the NHL with an absurd total of 79 hits in 17 games while also chipping in with 21 blocked shots. Luke Schenn (9% owned) isn’t quite reaching the same physical heights as Lauzon, but he is more widely available as a result. He sits fifth in the league with 60 hits and has 24 blocked shots on the year. They both are terrific targets for banger leagues this weekend, but just keep in mind you can’t rely on getting any sort of offensive contributions from these two. They’ve combined for just one goal and one assist this season.
Vegas Golden Knights–@ UTA (Fri), vs. WSH (Sun)
Pavel Dorofeyev (LW – 32% owned) is easily the number-one streaming target this weekend. His ownership continues to rise and he quite frankly deserves a long-term spot on your roster at this point, but he is still available in almost 70% of leagues. Dorofeyev is locked into a top-six role in Vegas this season and is taking full advantage of it. He’s finally earned a promotion to the first line and is also being heavily featured on the team’s top power-play unit. The 24-year-old Russian is up to nine goals, three assists, and 48 shots on goal through his first 16 games of the season, and seems to be getting better with every passing game. If you break it down to his last ten games, he’s got seven goals, three assists and a whopping 38 shots on goal. That elite level of production should only afford Dorofeyev more opportunity on a Golden Knights’ team starving for high-end offensive talent moving forward. Dorofeyev could be in for a breakout season and is of course a great bet to find the back of the net this weekend.
If you’re in one of the 32% of leagues that have clued into what Dorofeyev’s been up to of late, then Nicolas Roy (C/RW – 17% owned) makes for a solid consolation prize. Roy has seen his role grow thanks to the injuries in Vegas over the last few weeks, and he’s making the most of it. He is up to three goals, four assists, and 20 shots on goal across his last seven games. Roy is projected to play on the second line and first power-play unit this weekend. The shot volume and underlying numbers may not be on the same level as Dorofeyev, but the usage is there and he’s got the production to back it up.
Washington Capitals–@ COL (Fri), @ VGK (Sun)
Another young player that’s becoming more and more fantasy relevant by the day is the Capitals’ Aliaksei Protas (C/LW – 18% owned). Despite inexplicably being left off of either power-play unit, Protas is producing at a point per game clip through Washington’s first 15 games of the season. He’s skating alongside Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome on Washington’s top line and the three of them are dominating play at 5v5. Together they’re averaging more than 35 scoring chances and 16 high-danger chances per 60 – elite numbers. It’s a tough matchup spread this weekend on the road in Denver and Vegas, but the production is simply too good to ignore. The 23-year-old Protas is up to five goals and six assists over his last eight games.
Wrapping up our streaming options this weekend is Pierre-Luc Dubois (C/LW – 18% owned). Dubois has carved himself out a nice role in Washington, becoming a key member of their second line and power-play unit. He’s been limited to just a single goal this season, but is a good bet to make if you’re chasing assists this weekend. He’s averaging over half an assist per game, racking up eight through the first 15 games of the season. Dubois can also give you some added help across the board in scoring formats with extended categories. He’s up to 26 shots, 20 hits, and 14 blocked shots on the season.