This article is part of our Schedule Analysis series.
Although the NHL schedule seems more robust this week than next, the league has 94 games in total scheduled for each of the next two weeks. Here are some of this week's trends.
Four Aces
While you'll want to avoid the four organizations (Edmonton, Pittsburgh, San Jose, Tampa Bay) with just two tilts lined up this week, you'll have plenty of other choices for teams with four games.
Aside from looking to avenge a 6-2 loss to Ottawa earlier this season, Anaheim brings a a combined 4-0-1 record against this week's opponents. Francois Beauchemin has kicked it up a notch, Clayton Stoner missed Saturday's game and John Gibson has been good, but Frederik Andersen should be back this week.
Arizona closes out February with a four-game east coast swing. The Yotes have been outscored 11-3 against this week's opponents. Zbynek Michalek (upper body) may not accompany the team.
While Columbus has a combined 1-3 record against Buffalo, Montreal and New Jersey, they'll end the week against last year's playoff foe, Pittsburgh, who they are 2-0 against in the season series. The problem will be that Sunday's tilt with the Pens comes on the back end of back-to-back games. Don't call it a comeback, Boone Jenner style!
On a west coast swing, Detroit has been even more confident (9-4) on the road since the calendar year changed. Jimmy Howard is back to his old ways.
Florida opens their season series against Chicago with a non-traditional home-and-away before they host Buffalo (3-0-1
Although the NHL schedule seems more robust this week than next, the league has 94 games in total scheduled for each of the next two weeks. Here are some of this week's trends.
Four Aces
While you'll want to avoid the four organizations (Edmonton, Pittsburgh, San Jose, Tampa Bay) with just two tilts lined up this week, you'll have plenty of other choices for teams with four games.
Aside from looking to avenge a 6-2 loss to Ottawa earlier this season, Anaheim brings a a combined 4-0-1 record against this week's opponents. Francois Beauchemin has kicked it up a notch, Clayton Stoner missed Saturday's game and John Gibson has been good, but Frederik Andersen should be back this week.
Arizona closes out February with a four-game east coast swing. The Yotes have been outscored 11-3 against this week's opponents. Zbynek Michalek (upper body) may not accompany the team.
While Columbus has a combined 1-3 record against Buffalo, Montreal and New Jersey, they'll end the week against last year's playoff foe, Pittsburgh, who they are 2-0 against in the season series. The problem will be that Sunday's tilt with the Pens comes on the back end of back-to-back games. Don't call it a comeback, Boone Jenner style!
On a west coast swing, Detroit has been even more confident (9-4) on the road since the calendar year changed. Jimmy Howard is back to his old ways.
Florida opens their season series against Chicago with a non-traditional home-and-away before they host Buffalo (3-0-1 series lead) and Tampa Bay (0-0-1) on back-to-back nights. Aleksander Barkov set a new career-high and Willie Mitchell (upper body) is still day-to-day.
Combine Los Angeles' odd mediocrity (7-5-1) against Atlantic division teams with their record on the road (9-12-6) and the Kings will be wishing they could play all of their road games at Levi's Stadium. Alec Martinez (concussion) remains a mystery.
Currently playing a stretch of nine out of 10 games at home, New Jersey will host two Western conference teams and Boston before traveling to Columbus. If the fire sale is going to happen, it will likely begin this week. You may want to check out their AHL roster.
St. Louis will host Montreal before embarking on a five game road trip. Marcel Goc (upper body) is day-to-day. Petteri Lindbohm's stay could be longer than expected
Three of a Kind
Let's break down a few of the three-game schedule teams who have a favorable or unfavorable dockets this week:
Hold 'Em
The Islanders hold a perfect record (5-0) against this week's opponents, including a 3-0 series lead over the visiting Hurricanes. Calvin de Haan played 17 minutes in his return to the lineup. As a result, Lubomir Visnovsky sat as a healthy scratch.
The Rangers also hold a combined 5-0 record against this week's opponents. Much like the Isles, that includes a win against each the Yotes and Flames, but a 3-0 record against the rival Flyers, who they've outscored 10-2 this season. Mackenzie Skapski got his first win last week, but he will likely ride the bench this week.
Washington is a combined 6-1 against this week's opponents, including a 3-0 series lead over Pittsburgh. Cameron Schilling is serving as the team's seventh defenseman for now.
Fold 'Em
After performing admirably on their west coast trip in January, Calgary has stumbled a bit on the road of late and now they'll head to the dreary east coast. Paul Byron (lower body) is day-to-day.
Colorado has three different kinds of opponents this week: one they usually dominate (4-0 against Dallas), Nashville (1-1-1) and Minnesota (0-3), who is literally shutting down (0:9 GF:GA) the Avs. Tyson Barrie is enjoying nice production in his last 21 contests. Gabriel Landeskog has turned things around as well.
Winnipeg has been decent at home and they are playing .500 hockey against their opponents this week, but something seems avoidable here.
Other RotoWire Reports:Steve Downie was a healthy scratch on Saturday. Justin Fontaine may need your attention, as does Andrew Hammond. Alex Galchenyuk missed Saturday's game with the flu. With Alex Burrows (lower body) out, Nicklas Jensen is up from AHL Utica and Zack Kassian skated with the team's top line. David Krejeci (lower body) is not expected in Sunday's tilt against Chicago, making room for Ryan Spooner. Still no tiemtable for Dion Phaneuf. Daniel Winnik showed some production in Saturday's win and Toronto may send him packing while the iron is hot.
