Weekly NHL Forecaster November 27th – December 3rd

Below is a breakdown of the seventh week of NHL games in the 2017-2018 season (can you believe we are about 25% into the season?!?) . The graph breaks down the schedule and the strength of the opponent in goals for, goals against, their power play and penalty kill and ranks it against the rest of the league on a scale from 1-31 (with 31 being the worst) So the higher the average ranks you see for an opponent the better schedule that team has. It factors in how well a team does at home vs. on the road as well.

*Stats are as of 11/9/2017

Favorable:

Offense: Toronto Maple Leafs get a second straight favorable week in the Flames, Oilers and Canucks. The Devils have it best with the Panthers, Avalanche and Coyotes. I might suggest Adam Henrique who is only 13% owned as a potential boost in point production for the week.

Goalies: Roberto Luongo can push closer up the all-time wins chart as the Panthers have a lighter schedule with some offensively sub-average teams. The Maple Leafs also have that with the Flames (8^th worst offense), Oilers (2^nd worst) and Canucks (5^th worst at home).

Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images

Power Play: The Coyotes have a favorable week for their PP unit as they face Edmonton (worst PK unit); Calgary (4^th worst PK unit) and the Devils and Golden Knights who are average. The Calgary Flames also have a favorable week with Toronto, Arizona and Edmonton who are all who are all among the worst 12 PK units in the league. The Red Wings get the Kings, Canadiens home and away, Montreal is the 7^th worst PK unit in the league.

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Penalty Kill: The Ducks PK unit gets a relative breather as they face the Blackhawks (surprisingly the 3^rd worst PP unit); the Blues (bottom 10); the Blue Jackets (worst PP unit) and Nashville (who is the only respectable PP unit among the four). The Blue Jackets have an easy week with the Canadiens, Hurricanes, Ducks and Capitals. The first three matchups are among the worst 9 teams in the league on the power play.

Unfavorable:

Offense: LA Kings face a weaker Red Wings defense before having three straight top ten defenses in the Capitals, Blues and Blackhawks. None have it worse than the Islanders who have just two games against the Canucks and Senators both top ten defenses.

Goalies: It’s not easier for the Islanders on defense as Jaroslav Halak gets Brock Boeser, Erik Karlsson Matt Duchene and others on the defensive front. The Canucks and Senators are also top ten offenses. Braden Holtby will have a 2^nd consecutive rough set of matchups which can be trying for their defense.

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Power Play: Chicago faces the Anaheim Ducks (5^th best PK unit), the Nashville Predators (9^th best unit) a home and away against the stars (4^th best unit) and LA Kings (best PK unit) is it too bold to say in a week with 5 games the Blackhawks might only score 1-2 power play goals?!? The Blues get the Ducks, Kings and Wild (9^th best PK unit) so don’t anticipate much from Brayden Schenn this week.

Penalty Kill: I feel real bad for the Avalanche penalty killers this week as they face the Jets (4^th best PP unit); the Devils (8^th best unit) and Stars (best PP unit in the league). At least all three games are at home?