This article is part of our Schedule Analysis series.
*B2b (back-to-back occurrences) are in bold
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Four Aces
Four games in one week is usually a favorable condition for an explosive fantasy week. Let's check out the schedule of a few teams with a busy four-game schedule.
Chicago has a favorable schedule and should provide fantasy owners with punch.
San Jose has a difficult week ahead traveling to Boston and Anaheim to start and end the week respectively while hosting the Jackets. The only respite should be Buffalo at home on Saturday. One way or another, looks like Alex Stalock should get a start. Mike Brown (hand) was placed on IR on Saturday. Logan Couture finally broke the schneid on Saturday against New Jersey. Eriah Hayes was recalled from the AHL on Saturday.
Vancouver plays three strong rivalry games on the road and gets rewarded with the Capitals at home on Sunday. YIKES! With Ryan Stanton (lower body) questionable on Saturday, Frank Corrado was recalled from AHL Utica. Eddie Lack did get the start on Saturday versus Tampa Bay and lost.
Back-to-Back Jacks
Every so often a team with four games in one week gets the dreaded two b2b occurrence.
After squaring off with Edmonton as Monday's only game of the week, Tampa Bay plays in Calgary on Tuesday. After a few days off in the center of North America, the Lightning reconvene for b2b tilts with the Jets and Wild. Looks like a busy week for Ben Bishop and Evgeni Nabakov. Victor Hedman (upper body) did not return
*B2b (back-to-back occurrences) are in bold
----------------
Four Aces
Four games in one week is usually a favorable condition for an explosive fantasy week. Let's check out the schedule of a few teams with a busy four-game schedule.
Chicago has a favorable schedule and should provide fantasy owners with punch.
San Jose has a difficult week ahead traveling to Boston and Anaheim to start and end the week respectively while hosting the Jackets. The only respite should be Buffalo at home on Saturday. One way or another, looks like Alex Stalock should get a start. Mike Brown (hand) was placed on IR on Saturday. Logan Couture finally broke the schneid on Saturday against New Jersey. Eriah Hayes was recalled from the AHL on Saturday.
Vancouver plays three strong rivalry games on the road and gets rewarded with the Capitals at home on Sunday. YIKES! With Ryan Stanton (lower body) questionable on Saturday, Frank Corrado was recalled from AHL Utica. Eddie Lack did get the start on Saturday versus Tampa Bay and lost.
Back-to-Back Jacks
Every so often a team with four games in one week gets the dreaded two b2b occurrence.
After squaring off with Edmonton as Monday's only game of the week, Tampa Bay plays in Calgary on Tuesday. After a few days off in the center of North America, the Lightning reconvene for b2b tilts with the Jets and Wild. Looks like a busy week for Ben Bishop and Evgeni Nabakov. Victor Hedman (upper body) did not return on Saturday. Radko Gudas (lower body) expects to return to the lineup on Monday. Jonathan Drouin (thumb) scored his first AHL goal, a game-winner against Springfield no less.
Three of a Kind
The NHL schedule is typically based on the majority of teams playing three games in a seven day span. Let's check out three teams to hold and three teams to fold.
Hold 'Em
Carolina plays three road games in the first five days and one b2b occurrence. Anton Khudobin and Cam Ward will be needed. John-Michael Liles (general soreness) is nearing a return. PREDICTION: 2-1
Colorado will not only get Semyon Varlamov back, but their schedule is weak. Good thing, because Reto Berra (neck) is dealing with injuries of his own. PREDICTION: 2-1
Washington takes their new style on a road trip of midwest Canada and it should end well. PREDICTION: 3-0
Fold 'Em
Buffalo PREDICTION: 0-3
Philadelphia's Braydon Coburn (lower body) missed Saturday's OT win. PREDICTION: 1-2
Nashville's James Neal finally got on the board. PREDICTION: 1-2
A Pair
Normally a two game slate in seven days is a red flag, but let's take a closer look at six teams playing just a pair of tilts this week.
Florida looks to be off to their usual dismal start/season, so playing two games only gives you more reason to avoid like the plague. Dave Bolland (lower body) missed Saturday's game and Tuesday's not looking so hot either. Brandon Pirri took third line center duties on Saturday.
Los Angeles is off to a decent start. Looks like Martin Jones will continue to ride the bench with just two games planned this week. That's all right, Marian Gaborik (undisclosed) apparently could use a light week. The long awaited return of Jake Muzzin (upper body) has taken a turn, expect x-ray results on Thursday?
Minnesota should remain .500 this week, hosting Arizona and Tampa Bay. With Darcy Kuemper red hot, Niklas Backstrom was expected to make his first start today. Kyle Brodziak was a healthy scratch on Friday against the Ducks.
If Montreal can win both games against the visiting Red Wings and Rangers, they might stay first in conference points. Alex Galchenyuk has been a big part of the Canadiens success thus far.
Speaking of the sliding Rangers, a two game slate certainly lacks inspiration to start anyone from their roster, much-less on the road against the Devils and Canadiens. After logging first line minutes with Rick Nash and Chris Kreider, Anthony Duclair was expected to be healthy scratch today against San Jose. Just three games left before the team has to decide to send him back to the Quebec Remparts. Meanwhile Kevin Hayes is set to center Nash and Kreider on the team's second line against San Jose. If Hayes can produce, if could become more frequent as head coach Alain Vigneault is looking for any semblance of production early on.
St. Louis takes off the next three days before hosting the Canucks and Hawks in a three day span. Petteri Lindbohm was recalled from AHL Chicago on Saturday. Carl Gunnarsson (hip) did not play this weekend.
OTHER ROTOWIRE NOTES: Beay Bennett (leg) worked out on Saturday, but still shouldn't be expected back until mid-November. Michael Cammelleri continues to shine, are you selling high or sticking? Marko Dano (undisclosed) did not play in Satuday's loss to Ottawa. Pascal Dupuis (neck) returned to action to the tune of nearly 16 minutes of ice time on Saturday. Nick Foligno is definitely enjoying his season in Columbus, despite the injury bug. Johan Franzen (leg) did not play against the Leafs of Saturday, but could be back this week. Dougie Hamitlon had a goal and an assist in Saturday's win. Mikhail Grabovski (concussion) is out "indefinitely". Martin Hanzal (lower body) did not return after leaving Saturday's contest against the Blues. Jimmy Howard (groin) has been placed on the 48-hour IR. Ryan Johansen is quite possibly the strongest individual surprise of the season. Brooks Laich (upper body) did not return on Saturday. Paul Stastny (upper body) was not expected to play on Saturday.
