Whether your fantasy hockey playoffs continue, begin or approach, Jason Chen inspected the NHL for players to target and avoid based on this week's schedule.

There are 54 NHL games this week to capitalize on for fantasy hockey, including seven teams that will play back-to-back over the weekend. 

While the Stars and Kraken wrap up their two-game series on Monday, we have another set on Thursday and Saturday between the Penguins and Rangers, and the Lightning and Devils will play each other three times this week in what should be an exciting battle with elite talent on both sides. Anthony Cirelli is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, but otherwise, both teams will have all of their key players healthy.

The playoff picture is getting much clearer. In the West, it looks like the top eight teams are already set, with only division titles still to be determined. Though the Flames and Predators are not mathematically eliminated yet, their recent play and lack of deadline-day moves indicate that they think the odds are likely stacked against them.

The East picture is a little murkier, but the Caps basically waved the white flag at the deadline, and both the Sens and Sabres have hit slumps at really inopportune times. The Sens and Sabres face the Leafs, and the Sabres then host the Bruins at home while the Sens hope to contain Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Auston Matthews in consecutive games. This could be the week to start fading them.

That leaves the Panthers as the only team on the outside looking in that may have a shot, and with only two home games this week, their eyes will be on the Penguins-Rangers series and the Isles’ California road trip.

Here’s your Week 22 schedule breakdown.

Legend:
P% = season points percentage
Opp. P% = opponents’ season points percentage
Diff. = difference between P% and Opp. P%

Pick players from teams at the top of the schedule matrix to maximize games and matchups. Green is good. Red is bad. All advanced stats courtesy naturalstatrick.com. All positions and rostered percentages are courtesy of Yahoo fantasy.

Top 10 Weekly Bangers (< 50 percent rostered on Yahoo, on teams with at least four games this week):

Blocked Shots (BkS/GP):

1. David Savard, D, MTL (2.87)

2. Joel Edmundson, D, MTL (2.69)

3. Andrew Peeke, D, CLB (2.35)

4. Ryan McDonagh, D, NSH (2.25)

5. Trevor van Riemsdyk, D, WSH (2.21)

6. Erik Gudbranson, D, CLB (2.05)

7. Jake McCabe, D, TOR (2.02)

8. Esa Lindell, D, DAL (1.95)

9. Ryan Graves, D, NJ (1.95)

10. Mark Giordano, D, TOR (1.89)

Hits (Hits/GP):

1. Tanner Jeannot, RW, TB (3.83)

2. Michael Pezzetta, LW, MTL (3.64)

3. Jeremy Lauzon, D, NSH (3.61)

4. Kyle Burroughs, D, VAN (3.26)

5. Garnet Hathaway, RW, BOS (3.26)

6. Martin Fehervary, D, WSH (3.25)

7. Erik Cernak, D, TB (3.21)

8. Noel Acciari, C/LW, TOR (3.17)

9. Cole Smith, LW, NSH (2.84)

10. Connor Clifton, D, BOS (2.81)

Goalies:

Mads Sogaard and Kevin Mandolese, Senators

The Sens’ playoff hopes come down to this. Cam Talbot is out for multiple weeks with an oblique injury. Sogaard required attention Saturday against the Canucks, and Mandolese started Sunday against the Flames – both losses. Between them, they have started 11 games in the NHL. The Sens made a valiant effort, and kudos to Pierre Dorion for landing Jakob Chychrun, but it feels like the magic is over, and it’s time to start fading them again for the rest of the season.

Jonathan Quick and Jiri Patera, Golden Knights

Adin Hill has now missed three straight games due to a lower-body injury, but he wasn’t missed since Quick shut out the Hurricanes for his third straight win for the Knights, and Patera won his NHL debut Sunday against the Blues. Hill’s injury is not expected to keep him out for long, but Quick’s play has been very impressive, and he’s certainly earned the right to get more starts. It’s an easy schedule with the Flyers on Tuesday, and surely he’ll at least get the start on Sunday against the Jackets, his former team.

Joonas Korpisalo, Kings

Based on the Kings’ current rotation, Korpisalo will start Tuesday against the Isles, but will he get a consecutive start on Thursday against the Jackets, his former team? (It’s a theme these days.) Copley was solid in his last start, but it resulted in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Preds. Meanwhile, Korpisalo won his first two games with the Kings. With a six-game homestand and a back-to-back next weekend, this is shaping up to be a goaltending battle to watch. Korpisalo should be rostered in standard leagues in case he gets the edge for the starting job.

Matt Murray, Maple Leafs

Murray is expected to get his second straight start Monday against the Sabres, and it’s certainly a curious decision. When a goalie allows four goals, it’s usually not considered a good start, but it was the Oilers, and Murray did earn the win. Is this Sheldon Keefe testing to see how much he can push Murray right now? If Murray wins, the Leafs’ confidence in both of their goalies will grow and go back to a 50-50 split. If Murray loses, then they’ll simply go back to Samsonov as the 1A. Murray’s fantasy value has fluctuated all season due to injuries and playing time, and this will be a situation to monitor. It’s still a little too early to roster Murray if there are other options out there.

Short-Term Streamers (< 50 percent rostered on Yahoo):

Jack McBain, C, Coyotes

McBain is a faceoff-winning, hitting machine. Add three goals in his past five games he’s got the tools to be a banger league beast. There’s no competition internally except for Barrett Hayton, who offers up a different kind of fantasy value (points) and is also a worthwhile short-term streamer, but McBain also has quality linemates in rookie playmaker Matias Maccelli and power forward Lawson Crouse.

Jordan Greenway, LW, Sabres

We shall see what kind of upside Greenway has on offense after replacing Jack Quinn on the Sabres’ top line on the right wing (future LW/RW-eligiblity, I’m sure). He’s a power forward who never developed his offensive game, but perhaps it’s because he never got an opportunity like this with an elite goal scorer in Tage Thompson and the crafty Jeff Skinner.

Pavel Dorofeyev, LW, Golden Knights

Drafted in the third round – perhaps the reason why he has remained Vegas property given their propensity to trade players drafted in the first round – Dorofeyev scored 17 points in 32 games with AHL Henderson and made a splash scoring two points Sunday against the Blues playing on a line with Reilly Smith and William Karlsson. A strong game like that means he will get additional looks.

Mid-Term Holds (< 50 percent rostered on Yahoo):

Jason Zucker, LW, Penguins

Zucker pushed his goal streak to four games in Sunday’s win against the Rangers, and the Pens will face them twice more in Week 22. At his best, Zucker is a high-volume shooter and hitter, offering up immense upside in multiple categories.

Tommy Novak, C, Predators

Novak moves from a short-term stream to a mid-term hold from last week on the heels of his two-goal performance against the Ducks on Sunday, including the overtime-winner. He’s been very good for almost half a season now, and while Cody Glass gets more assignments, he clearly doesn’t have the same upside on offense as Novak, who is quickly emerging as their top-scoring center. The Preds have no other options, so roll with Novak for the rest of the season if you’re in a deeper league looking for some top-six upside.