Fantasy 31 trends: Schedule cheat sheet for 2017-18

With each team's remaining schedule taking on added importance in fantasy leagues after the NHL All-Star break, NHL.com has identified at least one relevant schedule trend for each of the 31 NHL teams.
NOTE: For strength of schedule purposes, non-contending teams include the Arizona Coyotes (33), Buffalo Sabres (37), Ottawa Senators (39), Vancouver Canucks (44), Florida Panthers (44), Montreal Canadiens (46), Detroit Red Wings (46) and Edmonton Oilers (47).

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Anaheim Ducks:They have the most favorable schedule among Western Conference teams with 12 of their remaining 32 games (38 percent) against non-contenders. Four of the Ducks' final five games are at home, where they are 14-9-3. Goaltender John Gibson sustained a lower-body injury against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, making efficient backup Ryan Miller (23 percent owned, 70th in Yahoo) worth adding in fantasy.
Arizona Coyotes:They have the second most favorable schedule in the Western Conference with 10 of their final 32 games (31 percent) against non-contenders. The Coyotes have an 11-game stretch from Feb. 15 to March 11 (including seven-game homestand) with seven games against non-contenders. If defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (396th in Yahoo) and goaltender Antti Raanta (199th; 24 percent) remain with the Coyotes past the 2018 NHL Trade Deadline on Feb. 26, they could capitalize on this soft spot.
Boston Bruins:They have four back-to-back sets in February, making goaltender Anton Khudobin (17 percent, 106th in Yahoo) a viable streaming option behind elite starter Tuukka Rask. Seven of those eight games are on the road, but Khudobin is 6-1-2 with a .938 save percentage in 10 road games. The Bruins also have eight games over the final two weeks of the regular season, tied for second-most in the League with the Ottawa Senators.

Buffalo Sabres: They play 61 percent of their remaining schedule (20 of 33 games) at home. Center Jack Eichel (85 points in 93 games) has strong home production in his NHL career, giving him added appeal as a fantasy trade target. That said, Buffalo has two games during the fantasy playoff quarterfinals (March 12-18), tied for fewest with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Calgary Flames:They have a difficult stretch coming out of the All-Star break; 16 of their next 18 games are against playoff contenders. The Flames are also tied for the fewest games over the final four weeks of the regular season (12) with the Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks.
Carolina Hurricanes:They play 61 percent (20 of 33) of their remaining games at home but have nine remaining back-to-back sets (most in NHL). Of the 18 games from those back-to-backs, 13 are against playoff contenders. Fantasy owners should avoid Hurricanes goaltenders, but forward Elias Lindholm (C/RW, 12 percent; 13 points in 20 home games) is worth adding for their eight-game homestand after the All-Star break.
Chicago Blackhawks: Their power play has struggled (15.5 percent; 28th in NHL), and they are tied for the fewest games over the last four weeks of the regular season (12). Unless you own elite right wing Patrick Kane (30th in Yahoo), don't load up on Blackhawks; they have the second most-difficult remaining schedule, playing 28 of their final 33 games against playoff contenders.

Colorado Avalanche:Ten of their first 13 games after the All-Star break are on the road, where they are 9-11-2. The status of goaltender Semyon Varlamov (44 percent), who's out with a lower-body injury, could prove to be crucial, because Jonathan Bernier (59 percent) is 4-5-1 with a .912 SV% in 10 road games. Over the Avalanche's final 20 games of the regular season, they play 18 against playoff contenders.
Columbus Blue Jackets: They rank 29th in goals per game (2.55), and their schedule after the All-Star break features 19 straight games against playoff contenders.
Dallas Stars: Ten of their final 14 regular-season games are on the road, where they are 11-11-3. They end the season on a three-game California road trip against the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings. Tyler Seguin (C/RW; 15th) has struggled on the road (15 points, minus-7 in 25 games; 0.60 points per game) compared to at home (28 points, plus-14 in 25 games; 1.12).

Detroit Red Wings: They have the most difficult remaining schedule among Atlantic Division teams with 28 of their final 34 games (82 percent) against playoff contenders. They play 12 of their 15 games from Feb. 25 to March 26 on the road, where they are 9-11-1. In that span, 14 of the 15 games are against playoff contenders.
Edmonton Oilers:They play 17 of their final 33 games against Pacific Division teams; the Oilers are 10-2-0 against their division this season.
Florida Panthers:They lead the NHL with nine games in the final two weeks of the season and 16 games in the final four weeks. They also have the second most favorable remaining schedule with 14 of their final 35 games (40 percent) against non-contenders. This boosts the fantasy stock of top-line right wing Evgenii Dadonov (23 percent) and makes goaltender Roberto Luongo (39 percent) an appealing option once he returns from a lower-body injury. Forward Denis Malgin (C/RW, fewer than 1 percent) is also in their top six and worth a look in deep leagues.
Los Angeles Kings:They have a seven-game road trip Feb. 9-20 but then play 15 of their final 22 games at home. Center Jeff Carter (59 percent) could be a difference-maker if he eventually returns from a lower-body injury; he is averaging 0.84 points per game at home since joining the Kings in 2012, compared to 0.65 on the road.
Minnesota Wild:They play five back-to-back sets from March 1 to the end of the regular season, making backup Alex Stalock (8 percent) a viable streaming option if your goaltending is weak.
Montreal Canadiens:They play eight games from March 12-26, tied for most in the NHL with the Oilers and Kings. That's significant for fantasy owners who expect to be in the playoff quarterfinals and semifinals.
Nashville Predators:They have the most favorable schedule among Central Division teams, with 11 of their 35 remaining games against non-contenders (31 percent). They have six remaining back-to-back sets, making backup Juuse Saros (11 percent) worth adding in deep leagues.

New Jersey Devils: In addition to recent injury concerns, the Devils play 85 percent (29 of 34) of their remaining games against playoff contenders (most difficult in NHL). Other than elite left wing Taylor Hall (29th in Yahoo), this could negatively affect the fantasy value of goaltender Cory Schneider and other relevant Devils skaters.
New York Islanders:Seven of their first nine games after the All-Star break are at home, and they have a five-game homestand March 18-26. They have scored 83 goals in 23 home games (3.6 per game). This makes forward Anthony Beauvillier (C/LW, 26 percent) and defenseman Ryan Pulock (3 percent) intriguing options off the waiver wire.
New York Rangers:They play 19 of their final 32 games (59 percent) on the road, where they are 8-12-2. Fourteen of those 19 road games are against playoff contenders.
Ottawa Senators:They are tied for second in the NHL with eight games over the final two weeks of the regular season and 15 games over the final four weeks. Forward Matt Duchene (C/RW; 39 percent) and rookie defenseman Thomas Chabot (4 percent) are potential waiver-wire pickups depending on your league size.
Philadelphia Flyers: They play 11 of their first 17 games after the All-Star break on the road, where they are 11-8-4. Goaltenders Brian Elliott (.896 SV% at home; .917 on road) and Michal Neuvirth (.915 at home, .927 on road) have strong road splits. Flyers forward Travis Konecny (C/LW/RW; 21 percent) has 12 points (six goals, six assists) and is plus-7 in 23 road games. That said, 15 of Philadelphia's final 16 games are against playoff contenders.

Pittsburgh Penguins:They have two games in the fantasy playoff quarterfinals (March 12-18) and two in the final week of the regular season (fewest in each week). This could negatively affect Pittsburgh's secondary scorers, such as forwards Patric Hornqvist, Jake Guentzel and defenseman Justin Schultz.
San Jose Sharks:They have the most difficult remaining schedule in the Pacific Division with 26 of 34 games (76 percent) against playoff contenders, but 12 of their final 19 games are at home (14-7-3). Second-liners Tomas Hertl (C/LW/RW, 38 percent; 18 points in 24 home games) and Kevin Labanc (LW/RW, 4 percent; 17 points in 21 home games) have favorable splits.
St. Louis Blues:They play 83.8 percent (26 of 31 games) of their remaining schedule against playoff contenders, fourth most-difficult in the NHL. This will further test their goalie tandem of Carter Hutton and Jake Allen. Fantasy owners should remain cautious when looking to add low-ownership Blues skaters, such as forwards Paul Stastny, Ivan Barbashev and Patrik Berglund.
Tampa Bay Lightning:They play 14 of their final 20 games at home, where they are 17-5-1. They play 14 of their 33 games (42 percent) against non-contenders, making their schedule the most favorable in the NHL.
Toronto Maple Leafs: They play 18 of their final 31 games at home, including a five-game homestand Feb. 5-14. The Maple Leafs also play six of their final eight games at home.
Vancouver Canucks:Five of their final six games are at home, and they have a five-game homestand from Feb. 28 to March 9. Forwards Bo Horvat (C, 33 percent; 21 in 24 home games) and Thomas Vanek (LW/RW, 16 percent; 14 in 15 home games) have favorable splits.
Vegas Golden Knights: They play six straight road games after the All-Star break against playoff contenders, but then play eight of 10 games (March 14-31) at home, where they are 19-3-2. This makes low-ownership Golden Knights like forward Erik Haula (C/LW, 38 percent) and defenseman Shea Theodore (25 percent) even more appealing.

Washington Capitals: Including the All-Star break, the Capitals will have played four games in an 17-day span. After the break, they'll have 15 games in a 28-day span. They have four remaining back-to-backs, which could limit backup Philipp Grubauer's playing time.
Winnipeg Jets:The Jets have a 10-game homestand after the All-Star break (Jan. 30 to Feb. 20). They play 27 of their final 32 games (84.3 percent) against playoff contenders, the third most-difficult stretch in the NHL. Forward Mathieu Perreault (C/LW, 30 percent) has 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) in 15 home games.