Looking ahead at the best schedules in fantasy hockey for the coming week.

Love ‘Em (These squads are sure to pay dividends in the coming days)

NY Rangers – With three out of four at home, this is a really cushy week for the Rangers. Derick Brassard should particularly enjoy this stretch as he has lit it up on home ice with nine points in eight games so far, including six in the past three on their current home stand.

Oscar Lindberg’s 28.6% shooting is outrageous and bound for regression but in a dense week like this, you can find room for him.

Relegated back to depth duties, Kevin Hayes is starting to find his stride with five points in the past five games. He’s still well-owned in fantasy pools after some serious pre-season hype but if he’s on your waiver wire, this is the week to grab him.

Toronto – The Leafs face some of the league’s powerhouse teams with games against Dallas, Nashville, Vancouver and the aforementioned Rangers. That’s four games, however and there aren’t too many teams with that dense a schedule.

You absolutely cannot start James Reimer or Jonathan Bernier against that murderer’s row, unless you have no other recourse. Making matters worse, Bernier’s current injury makes him questionable even against a creampuff slate.

Nazem Kadri and Joffrey Lupul are among several Leafs you’ll find on the waiver wire in the majority of fantasy leagues. Both are seeing top power play minutes. Given the dense schedule, there’s no better time to grab one of these guys.

Arizona – Three of the Coyotes’ four games come on the road, which doesn’t bode well for Mike Smith whose career numbers slant heavily towards home action.

The Coyotes have some really nice forwards who still aren’t owned in every fantasy league. Martin Hanzal returned from injury the other night to record two assists.

Mikkel Boedker has found his way back onto the top power play unit. Boedker has replaced Michael Stone in that slot, so the timing isn’t great for the young defenseman.

Tobias Reider shoots a ton and skates alongside Hanzal at even strength.

Leave ‘em (These squads will leave fantasy owners sorely disappointed in the short term)

Montreal – A team firing on all cylinders scoring a league high 3.67 goals per game and allowing a league low 1.80 goals against per game is not one you typically want to avoid. However, with just two games this week there is a limit to how much value one can derive from this club. That there is a little confusion about when exactly Carey Price will return from injury muddies the waters even further. Is it really worth starting Price this week when he might split with Mike Condon and make only one appearance? Or perhaps not even play at all?

The players this really affects are the depth guys who may not even be owned, let alone started on a regular basis. Jeff Petry has three assists in the past four games while both Dale Weise and David Desharnais have six points in the past four games. Unfortunately, this is not the week to make them your hot waiver pickup.

Boston – The Bruins aren’t scoring quite as frequently as the Canadiens but they sit second in the league with 3.57 goals per game. They also boast the league’s most efficient power play, scoring on a scorching 35% of all opportunities. Once again, this is a team with just two games this week, making it especially tough to start your Bruins, no matter how hot they are.

Tuukka Rask’s rate stats have been rather crippling anyhow with a 3.47 goals-against average and a 0.879 save percentage. He’s been better of late but you probably don’t need much of an excuse to leave him on the bench.

After a dalliance with the league’s scoring lead, David Krejci has slowed down having gone scoreless in the past three contests.

Colin Miller is on a five-game scoring streak, but with just two games, this is not the week to grab the rookie defenseman.

Washington – Another of the league’s top teams. The Capitals actually have three games this week but this is more a PSA for those in leagues with daily starts. The Capitals’ week ends on Friday the 13^th and they don’t pick up again until the following Wednesday. That kind of four-day layoff can be crippling so if you snag any Capitals off the waiver wire for a short boost, be sure to jettison them after Friday’s action.

Friday, November 6 to Thursday, November 12

Best Bets

Anaheim 4.46 – four games – three at home

New York Rangers 4.23 – four games – COL, ARI, CAR and STL

Dallas 4.20 – four games – CAR, DET, TOR and WPG

Vancouver 4.04 – four games – BUF, NJD, CBJ and OTT

Carolina 3.95 – four games – DAL, OTT, NYR and MIN

Steer Clear

Columbus 1.91 – two games – ANA and VAN

San Jose 1.94 – two games – ANA and NYI

Montreal 1.95 – two games – BOS and DET

Pittsburgh 2.79 – three games – two on road

St. Louis 2.85 – three games – all on road

Saturday, November 7 to Friday, November 13

Best Bets

Anaheim 4.46 – four games – three at home

Washington 4.35 – four games – TOR, DET, PHI and CGY

Vancouver 4.04 – four games – BUF, NJD, CBJ and OTT

Calgary 3.85 – four games – PIT, FLA, TBL and WAS

Arizona 3.76 – four games – NYR, ANA, LAK and EDM

Steer Clear

Montreal 1.95 – two games – BOS and PIT

Colorado 2.00 – two games – both on road

Columbus 2.01 – two games – VAN and PIT

Chicago 2.26 – two games – EDM and NJD

Toronto 2.76 – three games – all on road

Sunday, November 8 to Saturday, November 14

Best Bets

Detroit 4.15 – four games – three at home

Dallas 4.14 – four games – three at home

Vancouver 4.04 – four games – NJD, CBJ, OTT and TOR

New Jersey 3.95 – four games – three at home

New York Islanders 3.76 – four games -BIS, SJS, LAK and ANA

Steer Clear

Montreal 2.06 – two games – PIT and COL

Winnipeg 2.71 – three games – all on road

Colorado 2.76 – three games – all on road

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Calgary 2.85 – three games – all on road

St. Louis 2.89 – three games – two on road

Monday, November 9 to Sunday, November 15

Best Bets

New York Rangers 4.21 – four games – three at home

Toronto 3.91 – four games – DAL, NSH, VAN and NYR

Arizona 3.72 – four games – ANA, LAK, EDM and CBJ

Calgary 3.71 – three games – FLA, TBL, WAS and CHI

Tampa Bay 3.41 – three games – all at home

Steer Clear

New York Islanders 2.71 – three games – all on road

Montreal 2.06 – two games – PIT and COL

Winnipeg 2.71 – three games – all on road

Boston 2.31 – two games – COL and DET

Colorado 2.76 – three games – all on road

Tuesday, November 10 to Monday, November 16

Best Bets

Tampa Bay 4.46 – four games – three at home

Detroit 3.25 – three games – TBL, TOR and DAL

New York Rangers 4.21 – four games – three at home

Florida 4.26 – four games – three at home

Detroit 4.00 – four games – WAS, SJS, BOS and OTT

Steer Clear

Boston 2.31 – two games – COL and DET

Colorado 2.76 – three games – all on road

Edmonton 2.80 – three games – all on road

New Jersey 2.85 – three games – STL, CHI and PIT

Pittsburgh 2.70 – three games – MTL, CBJ and NJD

Wednesday, November 11 to Tuesday, November 17

Best Bets

Toronto 4.06 – four games – NSH, VAN, NYR and COL

Anaheim 4.01 – four games – EDM, NYI, CAR and NSH

Pittsburgh 3.83 – four games – three at home

Calgary 3.82 – four games – TBL, WAS, CHI and NJD

St. Louis 3.80 – four games – NYR, CHI, WPG and CBJ

Steer Clear

Washington 2.10 – two games – PHI and CGY

Colorado 2.80 – three games – all on road

Edmonton 2.80 – three games – all on road

New Jersey 2.80 – three games – all on road

Vancouver 2.80 – three games – all on road

Thursday, November 12 to Wednesday, November 18

Best Bets

Chicago 4.11 – four games – NJD, STL, CGY and EDM

Toronto 4.06 – four games -NSH, VAN, NYR and COL

Detroit 4.00 – four games – SJS, BOS, OTT and WAS

Winnipeg 3.30 – four games – DAL, NSH, STL and VAN

Calgary 3.82 – four games – TBL, WAS, CHI and NJD

Steer Clear

Montreal 2.26 – two games – COL and VAN

Colorado 2.80 – three games – all on road

New Jersey 2.80 – three games – all on road

Philadelphia 2.66 – three games – WAS, CAR and LAK

Minnesota 2.85 – three games – all on road

UPCOMING GAMES

Nov 07 - 19:11	NYR	vs	BUF
Nov 07 - 19:11	CAR	vs	PIT
Nov 07 - 19:11	OTT	vs	NYI
Nov 07 - 19:11	FLA	vs	NSH
Nov 07 - 19:11	BOS	vs	CGY
Nov 07 - 19:11	N.J	vs	MTL
Nov 07 - 19:11	T.B	vs	PHI
Nov 07 - 20:11	DAL	vs	CHI
Nov 07 - 20:11	STL	vs	UTA
Nov 07 - 20:11	WPG	vs	COL
Nov 07 - 22:11	L.A	vs	VAN
Nov 07 - 22:11	S.J	vs	MIN