Fantasy: Impact of schedule on playoffs

With 3-4 weeks remaining before the fantasy playoffs begin, it's a good time to look at the NHL schedule to see how many games each team has in the final few weeks of the season. In most leagues, the final two weeks are for the semifinals and final, or a two-week final.
Having a player or players with more games can make-or-break your playoff round. Last season, the Edmonton Oilers played four games in the final two weeks, the fewest of any team. Of course having center Connor McDavid helps, but if you weren't in a keeper League, he may have been worth dropping for a player on the Toronto Maple Leafs who had a League-high eight games in the final two weeks. It's more than likely a player with eight games produced more than McDavid in four games.

That being said, a look at the schedule shows the Winnipeg Jets play five games in the final two weeks, the fewest of any team. The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils each play six. The Carolina Hurricanes play the most games of any team (nine) because of a postponed game earlier in the season.
The Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Los Angeles Kings, New York Islanders, Nashville Predators, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals and Maple Leafs each play eight games.
Here's a look at players on those teams that can help down the stretch and are likely available:

Hurricanes

If you're in need of a goalie to win a category or two, Cam Ward (56 percent owned in Yahoo) could be your guy. Although he's lost four starts in a row and hasn't been as good as earlier in the season, Ward is a workhorse and you know he'll start the majority of games down the stretch. Jeff Skinner (LW, 73 percent owned) leads the Hurricanes in goals (20) and points (39) and is somehow available in almost 30 percent of leagues. Jordan Staal (C/LW, 19 percent owned) has 30 points (11 goals) and is also one of the top point producers for Carolina.

Blue Jackets

Columbus will likely be fighting for playoff positioning the rest of the season, meaning every point is important. Sam Gagner (C/RW, 25 percent owned) has 14 goals, 20 assists, 15 PPP and 121 SOG. Scott Hartnell (LW, 18 percent owned) has 13 goals, 17 assists and only 75 SOG, but has had stretches of hot streaks this season. Boone Jenner (C/LW, 41 percent owned) isn't on pace for the 30 goals he had last season, but has 11 (including two in five games) and 145 SOG.

Panthers

Jonathan Huberdeau (LW, 72 percent owned) should be owned in more leagues; he has eight points, 25 SOG and is plus-5 in eight games since returning from injury. Jonathan Marchessault (C/LW, 39 pecent owned), who started off the season among the NHL scoring leaders, has 18 goals and 18 assists including goals in each of his past two games. Goalie James Reimer (36 percent owned) has taken starts from Roberto Luongo and has allowed one goal in two of his past three starts. Reimer is 12-7-4 with a 2.48 GAA and .918 SV%

Kings

Defenseman Alec Martinez (74 percent owned) has 29 points (seven goals) and 112 SOG. He's available in 26 percent of leagues and despite the poor plus-minus (minus-15), helps in many other categories. Dustin Brown (LW/RW, 9 percent owned) has nine goals and 18 assists, including two multipoint games in his past six, and provides value in hits leagues (148). There's a good chance goalie Jonathan Quick (89 percent owned) isn't out there, but if he is, he's worth adding as he reportedly could return as early as next week.

Islanders

Josh Bailey (LW/RW, 20 percent owned) leads the Islanders in assists (31) and is second with 43 points. He has three points in two games and playing with center John Tavares has helped him, as has playing on the top power-play unit. Nick Leddy (D, 53 percent owned) doesn't have a goal in six games, but is plus-6 in his past five, and not only takes shots (104) but sets up teammates as well (23 assists).

Predators

Captain Mike Fisher (C, 20 percent owned) has 14 goals and 20 assists and is a six-time 20-goal scorer who can chip in with the occasional point. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm (18 percent owned) may not be on the top pair but has 20 points, is plus-8 and averages 23:39 of ice time per game. Backup goalie Juuse Saros (8 percent owned) has played in two of the past three games for the Predators and has done nicely (six wins, 2.22 GAA, .929 SV%) when filling in for Pekka Rinne.

Senators

Dion Phaneuf (D, 69 percent owned) has had a resurgent season with nine goals, 17 assists and 123 SOG, including points in six of seven games. Zack Smith (C/LW, 10 percent owned) is dual eligible and has 29 points (14 goals, 15 assists), including six of his past seven games with multiple SOG. With the Senators' injury woes at forward, he's worth a look. Ryan Dzingel (LW, 3 percent owned) has 12 goals and 17 assists and is plus-9. He is another depth forward who could help out your team.

Blues

Forwards Paul Stastny (C, 32 percent owned) and David Perron (LW/RW, 14 percent owned), are two players worth keeping an eye on. Stastny returned from a lower-body injury on Monday and was producing prior to that. Perron has 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists), and has hot and cold stretches, but the Blues have been scoring in bunches lately, so he could wind up picking up points. Backup goalie Carter Hutton is somehow only 14 percent owned despite shutouts in his past two games and in three of his past four.

Lightning

Tampa Bay is still holding out hope for a Stanley Cup Playoff berth and several players available likely would help. Ondrej Palat (LW, 28 percent owned) has 13 goals, 17 assists and 103 SOG, and had two goals in a 4-1 win against the Oilers on Tuesday. Reuniting with Tyler Johnson (C, 52 percent owned, four points in past four games) and Nikita Kucherov (54 points this season) has helped. Also Steven Stamkos (C, 86 percent owned) is a sneaky add if you have the room. He should be back soon from a knee injury and would add immediate value to most standard categories.

Capitals

Backup goalie Philipp Grubauer (26 percent owned) is worth targeting since he likely will get starts as the season winds down to give Braden Holtby some rest. Grubauer is 10-4-2 with a 1.98 GAA, .932 SV% and three shutouts. Brett Connolly (LW/RW, 4 percent owned) has 12 goals and six assists, including a recent three-game goal scoring streak, and has been a nice depth forward for the Capitals. Defenseman Matt Niskanen (76 percent owned), who is day to day with a lower-body injury, has four goals and 28 assists with 114 SOG and is plus-19. Most players on Washington are worth adding because of their offensive ability.

Red Wings

Detroit's playoff streak of 25 straight seasons might be over, but that doesn't mean the Red Wings won't provide fantasy value down the stretch. The Red Wings play three games in three days at the end of March, including two in a row at the Hurricanes because of their postponed game earlier in the season. Thomas Vanek (31 percent owned) is dual eligible (RW/LW) and is second on Detroit in scoring with 38 points (15 goals, 23 assists). Anthony Mantha (LW/RW, 17 percent owned) has 13 goals, 18 assists (four points in seven games) and is plus-13 with 105 SOG. Goalie Jimmy Howard (36 percent owned) hasn't played since Dec. 20, but with the heavy schedule down the stretch, should be in line for starts if he's healthy enough. He has a 1.96 GAA and .934 SV% in 17 appearances.

Maple Leafs

With most of the talk about Toronto's rookies, Nazem Kadri (C, 77 percent owned) quietly has 47 points (25 goals, 22 assists) with 184 SOG (three-plus in eight straight games) and 81 PIM (second on the team behind Matt Martin with 93) and has done it all for them. Tyler Bozak (C, 14 percent owned) has flown under the radar with 14 goals, 25 assists and 111 SOG, including points in two of the past three games. Zach Hyman (C/LW, 3 percent owned, eight goals, 15 assists, 28 PIM, 125 SOG) and Connor Brown (RW, 3 percent owned, 15 goals, 12 assists, plus-6, 102 SOG) are two others worth looking at.

Avalanche

It's tough to mention players who could help because Colorado is likely to be a seller at the NHL Trade Deadline (3 p.m. ET on March 1) meaning players not on the team will have a chance to play more. That being said,
here's a look at some players on the Avalanche who could be traded
and what it means for them.