Fantasy Hockey: Week 6 Preview and Waiver Pickups
Photo Credit: Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images
How's it going hockey nerds, vizioN back again with this week's preview and waiver pickups. Once again, I'm sorry for being later than usual. School has been getting the best of me as of late so fantasy hockey been on the sidelines. Going to cut straight to the chase now, so without further adieu, here is this week's edition.
CGY have 2 games against OTT, who allow a league-worst, 4 goals per game. PIT and NJD both have 2 games each against WSH, who are ranked 28th, allowing an average of 3.55 goals per game. NSH and CH both have 2 games each against DEt, who are ranked 24th, allowing an average of 3.20 goals per game.
Week Preview
BUF is the team to target as they play 5 games this week. 17 teams play 4 games and 11 teams play 3 games this week, so there are a lot of streaming options. Make sure to avoid both VAN and WPG as they both only play 2 games.
Number of Games for Each Team
| Number of Games | Teams |
|---|---|
| 5 Games | BUF | 4 Games | ARZ, CGY, CAR, CHI, COL, CBJ, DAL, DET, FLA, LAK, MIN, NSH, NJD, NYI, PIT, TBL, and WSH |
| 3 Games | ANH, BOS, EDM, MTL, NYR, OTT, PHI, SJS, STL, TOR, and VGK |
| 2 Games | VAN and WPG |
Number of Off-Day Games
| Number of Games | Teams |
|---|---|
| Three Games | NYR |
| Two Games | ARZ, BOS, BUF, CHI, PIT, and WSH |
| One Game | ANH, CAR, COL, CJB, DAL, DET, FLA, LAK, MIN, MON, NSH, NJD, OTT, PHI, and VAN |
Teams With Back-to-Back Games
| Teams |
|---|
| BOS, BUF(x2), CGY, CAR, CHI, COL, CBJ, DAL, DET, FLA, LAK, MIN, NSH, NJD, NYI, PHI, PIT, TBL, and WSH |
Number of Games for Each Day
| Day | Number of Games |
|---|---|
| Monday | 8 games |
| Tuesday | 6 games |
| Wednesday | 7 games |
| Thursday | 11 games |
| Friday | 3 game |
| Saturday | 14 game |
| Sunday | 6 games |
Week 6 Pickups
1. Jordan Kyoru - C/W (46%)
Ivan Barbashev is out week-to-week and will be re-evaluated in 6 weeks. In Barbashev's absence, Kyrou has been moved to the Blues' top line. In his first game as the newly promoted member of the first line, Kyrou scored a goal with 2 assists, while skating 20:27 minutes of ice time. Kyrou already has 17 points in 18 games this season. You can expect his production to increase now that he's playing with Ryan O'Reilly and David Perron. Grab him while you still can.
2. Sam Reinhart - C/W (45%)
Reinhart has 10 points in 12 games this season while skating along with Jack Eichel and Victor Olofsson on BUF's top line. Reinhart has 7 points in his last 7 games and with BUF playing 5 games this week, Reinhart makes a great target! Other streaming targets include Eric Staal, Dylan Couzen, and Cody Eakins (for faceoffs).
3. Nico Hischier - C (31%)
Hischier may be pointless in his first 2 games back, but one positive sign is that he is currently getting 80% of his starts in the offensive zone. Hischier scored 52 points in his rookie season and was on pace for 51 and 55 points in his last 2 seasons. He has a floor of a 50 point player so you know what you're getting out of him. NJD has 2 games against WSH, who are ranked 28th, allowing an average of 3.55 goals per game, which gives Hischier a great opportunity to get in his groove. Moreover, Hischier had an average of 8.74 faceoff win last year, so he will be someone of great value in a faceoff league.
4. Jack Hughes - C/W (62%)
If you're looking for a guy who can score, then Hughes is your guy. Hughes has 11 points in 13 games this season, with 3 in his last 4 games since NJD returned to play. With Hischier back in play, Hughes should get a little boost in power-play production. Other streaming targets include Kyle Palmieri, Andreas Johnsson, and Nikita Gusev
5. Ondrej Palat - W (61%)
Palat has 12 points in 15 games this season while playing on TBL's top line alongside of Steven Stamkos and Brayden Point. Palat also has exposure to TBL's first power-play unit. TBL has three games this week against CAR who has looked shaky since Mrazek's injury. Since taking over the starting goalie role, James Reimer has allowed an average of 3.8 goals per game with a 0.883 SV% in his 5 games. Additionally, TBL's last game of the week is against DAL, who has allowed an average of 3.5 goals in their last 8 games. Other streaming targets include Alex Killorn, Blake Coleman, Yanni Gourde, and Tyler Johnson.
6. Brock McGinn - W (17%)
McGinn is currently riding shotgun to Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov on CAR's top line. The winger has 10 points in his last 10 games and is worth a stream in anyone playing a deep league. Other targets include Nino Niederreiter and Martin Necas.
7. Alex Iafallo - W (10%)
Iafallo has 12 points in 16 games this season while putting up 2.63 shots per game and skates 20:16 minutes a night. The winger is skating on LAK's top line alongside Anze Kopitar and Dustin Bronw. Iafallo has 7 points in his last 6 games.
8. Alex Wennberg - C (3%)
Wennberg has 9 points in 16 games this season, with 7 of those coming in the last 8 games. The Swede is centering Jonathan Huberdeau and Patric Hornqvist on FLA's second line. In addition, FLA has three games against DAL this week. DAL has allowed an average of 3.5 goals in their last 8 games, so expect a goal heavy series. Other streamer targets include Carter Verhaeghe, Anthony Duclair, and Radko Gudas.
9. Esa Lindell - D (11%)
Lindell's peripherals are slighting down this year, averaging 1.17 hits and 1.67 blocks per game. FLA is 2nd in the league putting up 32.4 shots per game. Moreover, Lindell is on DAL's top pairing so he will get plenty of opportunities to block some shots.
10. Chris Driedger - G (53%)
A bit of a no-brainer here. FLA has a three-game series against DAL with a back-to-back which gives Driedger the potential to start 2/3 games. Driedger is 6-1-1 with a 2.34 GAA and .926 SV% this season. I featured Driedger in a post last week and his ownership has jumped out by 17%. His availability may be gone so I will include a few extra targets. Ilya Sorokin should be getting the nod today after Semyon Varlamov lost back-to-back games. Sorokin has already shutout the Sabres last week in a 20 save effort. CHI has a back-to-back against DET this weekend since means that Malcolm Subban should be getting a start in. Subban has already beat DET this season putting up a 0.931 SV% while allowing 2 goals. Juuse Saros/Pekka Rinne should be splitting their series against DET. It's DET, enough said. Mike Smith is 4-0-1 with a 1.83 GAA and 0.940 SV% this season. EDM does have 2 games against a struggling VAN but I would be aware as VAN has the potential to pop off anytime.