Weekly NHL Forecaster January 15th – January 21st

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 1/3/2018

Favorable:

Offense:

The Blues have two home games vs. Toronto and Ottawa (both terrible at home on the road) and Arizona on the road (who is terrible at home)

The Panthers will go up against the Vegas Golden Knights (not good on the road) and the Predators (not good at home)

Goalies:

The Blues schedule also works out well for their defense. This could be a sneaky good week for Joel Edmundson (22% owned); Dmity Jaskin (1% owned) and Paul Stastny (25% owned)

The West coast teams are lethal defensively but not very strong on offense so Pittsburgh’s defense can breathe a sigh of relief as they cross the country this week.

The Red Wings face the Stars and Hurricanes who are average to sub average on the road.

Power Play:

The Jets have a back to back line up late in the week against some fellow Canadien rivals (Flames and Canucks) both of whom are among the 6 worst PK units.

New Jersey gets the Islanders, Capitals and Flyers all bottom ten in PK units.

The Oilers have one game but it’s against the lowly Canucks (4^th worst PK unit)

The strongest is the Blackhawks who have one game against the Islanders who are the worst PK unit.

Penalty Kill:

Nashville faces off against the Golden Knights, Coyotes and Panthers, two of those three are among the worst 10 PP units.

The Maple Leafs get the Blues and Senators (both bottom ten in PP units) and Philadelphia (average).

Unfavorable:

Offense:

Pittsburgh makes a trip out west against three stellar goalies (Jonathan Quick, Martin Jones and John Gibson).

Philadelphia – if possible just avoid them altogether this week, the Rangers, Maple Leafs, Devils and Capitals in a mix of home and away that’s completely in favor of their opponents preferred location.

Goalies:

The Canucks face the Oilers at home (Edmonton is amazing on the road) and Winnipeg who is average. Surprisingly two home games for the Canucks and it will be a rough week.

Philadelphia – see above – avoid avoid.

Vegas Golden Knights – Nashville, Tampa Bay, Florida and Carolina ALL on the road and Vegas is not as strong on the road.

Power Play:

The Sharks get LAK (top PK unit); Colorado Avalanche (5^th best PK unit), Arizona Coyotes (19^th best PK unit); Anaheim Ducks (9^th best PK unit) and Pittsburgh Penguins (12^th best PK unit).

The Penguins have to face the California trifecta of Anaheim, LAK and San Jose (all top ten PK units)

Penalty Kill:

The Wild have one game – Tampa bay Lightning. No. Thank you.

The Kings go up against the Sharks, Penguins, Ducks and Rangers, all are above average PP units.