In this week's Eastern Edge, we'll look at waiver-wire options that could help you secure your fantasy matchup this week. In particular, we'll focus on how the Montreal Canadiens can provide some underrated value to your fantasy lineup. To get a better view of this week's schedule, I used the Schedule Planner in Dobber's Frozen Tools. It's an incredibly useful tool that helps you maximize your games played and determine which waiver wire options will fit into your lineup. Check it out over here!

Montreal Canadiens

Between Tuesday April 27^th and Sunday May 2^nd, the Canadiens play three games – two of which are slated for 'light days' – when there aren't many games scheduled across the league. As a result, you should be able to fit a few Canadiens into your fantasy lineup over the next few days. Now, you may be reluctant to target players from Montreal because the team has had so much trouble scoring recently: over the past three weeks, they've had the league's second-worst offense, averaging just 1.83 goals a night through their last 12 games. However, I think it's important to consider that five of those 12 games were played against the Flames. Montreal's offense thrives off the rush, but Calgary's defense did an excellent job of minimizing Montreal's rush chances and suffocating their offense. The Habs averaged just 1.67 goals per game through nine clashes with Calgary this year. The good news is they don't have to face the Flames again this season. Instead, Montreal's three games this week will be played against Toronto, Winnipeg and Ottawa. The Habs have averaged 2.83 goals per game in their six clashes with the Leafs, 2.88 goals per game through eight tilts with Winnipeg, and 2.50 goals through eight matchups against the Senators. In other words, Montreal's offense has had a lot more success against the teams they'll be playing this week than they've had against the Flames – whom they've played a lot recently. As such, I wouldn't let recent offensive struggles deter you from targeting a few Canadiens for your fantasy matchups this week. With all that being said, let's go ahead and take a closer look at a few players that may be available on your waiver wire:

Cole Caufield – There's a lot of hype surrounding the 15^th overall pick of the 2019 draft, which is fair when you consider he's been a prolific goal scorer at every level he's played. Caufield made his NHL debut on Monday against the Flames, seeing nearly 16 minutes of ice time, including two minutes on the power play. At even strength, he played alongside Phillip Danault and Tomas Tatar – a couple of high-quality two-way forwards. With defensively responsible line mates, Caufield has more freedom to produce the offense he was brought in to provide. While he didn't find the scoresheet on Monday, he registered four shots on goal and was involved in a couple of good scoring chances. Given what we saw in Caufield's debut, it seems he'll be deployed in favourable situations conducive to scoring. He's currently available in 87-percent of Yahoo leagues and could provide some offense for your fantasy team this week.

Joel Armia – There are a few reasons why I think the 27-year-old forward could be a good add this week. First, he's been playing with Montreal's leading goal scorer Tyler Toffoli, who sits fourth in the league with 25 goals through 44 games. Second, Armia has looked really good against the Jets this year, posting three goals in six matchups with Winnipeg. I know Montreal only has one game against the Jets this week, but a single game could make the difference between winning and losing your fantasy matchup at this point in the season. In addition, Armia is especially valuable in leagues that count hits, registering 30 hits in his last 10 appearances. He's currently available in 97-percent of Yahoo Leagues, so there's a good chance he's sitting on your waiver wire this week.

Corey Perry – If you're in a deep league and desperate for offense, Corey Perry could be the answer. He has nine goals through 40 appearances this season, which includes a number of important late-game tallies. As a result of his offensive contributions, Perry has been trusted with more ice time recently. He has averaged nearly 15 minutes of ice time through 15 games in April, which includes over two minutes a night on the power play. He plays a prominent role with the man advantage, providing the net-front presence and creating scoring chances with his deft moves in tight spaces. At even strength, he's playing beside one of Montreal's offensive catalysts in Josh Anderson, who has 17 goals in 44 outings this year. Perry could be especially valuable in leagues that reward penalty minutes as he leads the Canadiens with 33 PIMs in 37 appearances. He's currently available in 98-percent of Yahoo fantasy formats.

While I've highlighted a few widely available options, waiver wires in shallow leagues might feature guys like Josh Anderson or Nick Suzuki, who could certainly help you win your fantasy matchup this week.

Other Options

Jakub Vrana – The Red Wings play four games over the next six days and Vrana is clearly the team's best offensive option, posting six points in five games since arriving in Detroit. The Lightning and Red Wings are the only two teams in action on Sunday May 2^nd, so Vrana could make important contributions on the final fay of your matchup. He's available in 50-percent of Yahoo Leagues, so it's worth checking to see if he's still sitting on your waiver wire.

Blake Coleman – Aside from the Red Wings, Tampa is the only team that plays four games over the next six nights. While most of the team's fantasy-relevant players are probably rostered at this point in the season, Coleman is still available in 59-percent of Yahoo leagues. He has seven points and 20 hits in his last 10 games.