Games & off-nights
Fantasy Hockey Schedule Optimizer
Games & off-nights for every NHL team in any fantasy week, so you know who to stream. Rank teams by off-night games and back-to-backs, look two and four weeks ahead, then switch to Players for low-rostered streamers on those teams over any dates. Week 3 (Oct 12–18): 6 teams with four or more games and 4 off-nights.
Games, week 3
50
Lightest night
2 games
Game-day distribution: when to stream
NHL games each night of week 3. Nights with fewer than 10 games are off-nights: fewer of your regular starters play, so a streamer fills an empty slot. Busiest night: Tue (16); average 7.1 games per game night.
- Mon 123off-night
- Tue 1316busy
- Wed 142off-night
- Thu 1511busy
- Fri 162off-night
- Sat 1714busy
- Sun 182off-night
Teams ranked by games and off-nights: week 3 (Oct 12–18)
Most games first, then most off-night games, then fewest back-to-backs. Green dates are off-nights; * marks the second game of a back-to-back.
| # | Team | Games | Off-night | Home | Away | B2B | Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota Wild | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | Mon vs VGKTue @ WPG*Thu vs STLSun vs CBJ |
| 2 | Buffalo Sabres | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | Mon vs FLATue @ MTL*Thu @ TORSat @ MTL |
| 3 | Florida Panthers | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | Mon @ BUFTue @ CBJ*Thu vs VANSat vs SEA |
| 4 | New Jersey Devils | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | Mon vs OTTTue @ DET*Thu vs NYRSat @ WSH |
| 5 | Ottawa Senators | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | Mon @ NJDTue vs STL*Thu vs NYISat @ PHI |
| 6 | Vegas Golden Knights | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | Mon @ MINTue @ NSH*Thu vs CGYSat vs PIT |
| 7 | Colorado Avalanche | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Tue @ DALWed vs DAL*Fri vs PIT |
| 8 | Calgary Flames | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | Tue @ ANAThu @ VGKSun vs CAR | |
| 9 | Boston Bruins | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | Tue @ SJSFri @ ANASat @ LAK* |
| 10 | Carolina Hurricanes | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Tue vs WSHSat @ WPGSun @ CGY* |
| 11 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Tue vs FLASat vs NYRSun @ MIN* |
| 12 | Dallas Stars | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Tue vs COLWed @ COL*Sat @ CHI |
| 13 | Montreal Canadiens | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Tue vs BUFWed @ WSH*Sat vs BUF |
| 14 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | Tue @ CHIFri @ COLSat @ VGK* |
| 15 | Washington Capitals | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Tue @ CARWed vs MTL*Sat vs NJD |
| 16 | Chicago Blackhawks | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | Tue vs PITThu vs WPGSat vs DAL | |
| 17 | Detroit Red Wings | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | Tue vs NJDThu vs PHISat vs SJS | |
| 18 | Edmonton Oilers | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | Tue @ LAKThu vs UTASat @ UTA | |
| 19 | Nashville Predators | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | Tue vs VGKThu vs SJSSat vs STL | |
| 20 | New York Islanders | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | Tue vs VANThu @ OTTSat @ TOR | |
| 21 | New York Rangers | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | Tue vs TBLThu @ NJDSat @ CBJ | |
| 22 | Philadelphia Flyers | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | Tue vs SEAThu @ DETSat vs OTT | |
| 23 | Seattle Kraken | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Tue @ PHIThu @ TBLSat @ FLA | |
| 24 | San Jose Sharks | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | Tue vs BOSThu @ NSHSat @ DET | |
| 25 | St. Louis Blues | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Tue @ OTTThu @ MINSat @ NSH | |
| 26 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | Tue @ NYRThu vs SEASat vs VAN | |
| 27 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | Tue @ UTAThu vs BUFSat vs NYI | |
| 28 | Utah Mammoth | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | Tue vs TORThu @ EDMSat vs EDM | |
| 29 | Vancouver Canucks | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Tue @ NYIThu @ FLASat @ TBL | |
| 30 | Winnipeg Jets | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | Tue vs MINThu @ CHISat vs CAR | |
| 31 | Anaheim Ducks | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | Tue vs CGYFri vs BOS | |
| 32 | Los Angeles Kings | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | Tue vs EDMSat vs BOS |
Next 2 weeks: short-term streaming (weeks 3–4)
Oct 12–25
| # | Team | Games | Per week | Off-night | B2B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota Wild | 8 | 4.0 | 3 | 2 |
| 2 | Colorado Avalanche | 7 | 3.5 | 5 | 2 |
| 3 | Florida Panthers | 7 | 3.5 | 3 | 2 |
| 4 | Ottawa Senators | 7 | 3.5 | 2 | 2 |
| 5 | New Jersey Devils | 7 | 3.5 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | San Jose Sharks | 7 | 3.5 | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 7 | 3.5 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | Vegas Golden Knights | 7 | 3.5 | 1 | 1 |
| 9 | Montreal Canadiens | 6 | 3.0 | 3 | 1 |
| 10 | Philadelphia Flyers | 6 | 3.0 | 2 |
All 32 teams
| # | Team | Games | Per week | Off-night | B2B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Anaheim Ducks | 6 | 3.0 | 2 | 1 |
| 12 | Buffalo Sabres | 6 | 3.0 | 2 | 1 |
| 13 | Dallas Stars | 6 | 3.0 | 2 | 1 |
| 14 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 6 | 3.0 | 2 | 1 |
| 15 | New York Islanders | 6 | 3.0 | 1 | |
| 16 | New York Rangers | 6 | 3.0 | 1 | |
| 17 | Utah Mammoth | 6 | 3.0 | 1 | |
| 18 | Vancouver Canucks | 6 | 3.0 | 1 | |
| 19 | Winnipeg Jets | 6 | 3.0 | 1 | |
| 20 | Boston Bruins | 6 | 3.0 | 1 | 1 |
| 21 | Carolina Hurricanes | 6 | 3.0 | 1 | 1 |
| 22 | Nashville Predators | 6 | 3.0 | 1 | 1 |
| 23 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 6 | 3.0 | 1 | 1 |
| 24 | Detroit Red Wings | 6 | 3.0 | 0 | |
| 25 | Edmonton Oilers | 6 | 3.0 | 0 | |
| 26 | Seattle Kraken | 6 | 3.0 | 0 | |
| 27 | St. Louis Blues | 6 | 3.0 | 0 | |
| 28 | Chicago Blackhawks | 5 | 2.5 | 2 | |
| 29 | Calgary Flames | 5 | 2.5 | 1 | |
| 30 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 5 | 2.5 | 1 | 1 |
| 31 | Washington Capitals | 5 | 2.5 | 1 | 1 |
| 32 | Los Angeles Kings | 5 | 2.5 | 0 |
Next 4 weeks: roster holds (weeks 3–6)
Oct 12–Nov 8
| # | Team | Games | Per week | Off-night | B2B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota Wild | 14 | 3.5 | 5 | 3 |
| 2 | San Jose Sharks | 14 | 3.5 | 4 | 2 |
| 3 | New Jersey Devils | 14 | 3.5 | 4 | 3 |
| 4 | Calgary Flames | 13 | 3.3 | 8 | 1 |
| 5 | Colorado Avalanche | 13 | 3.3 | 7 | 3 |
| 6 | Florida Panthers | 13 | 3.3 | 7 | 3 |
| 7 | Anaheim Ducks | 13 | 3.3 | 5 | 2 |
| 8 | Winnipeg Jets | 13 | 3.3 | 4 | 1 |
| 9 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 13 | 3.3 | 4 | 2 |
| 10 | Vegas Golden Knights | 13 | 3.3 | 4 | 2 |
All 32 teams
| # | Team | Games | Per week | Off-night | B2B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Ottawa Senators | 13 | 3.3 | 4 | 3 |
| 12 | Edmonton Oilers | 13 | 3.3 | 3 | 1 |
| 13 | Detroit Red Wings | 13 | 3.3 | 2 | 1 |
| 14 | Buffalo Sabres | 12 | 3.0 | 5 | 1 |
| 15 | Philadelphia Flyers | 12 | 3.0 | 5 | 1 |
| 16 | Chicago Blackhawks | 12 | 3.0 | 4 | 1 |
| 17 | Boston Bruins | 12 | 3.0 | 3 | 1 |
| 18 | Montreal Canadiens | 12 | 3.0 | 3 | 1 |
| 19 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 12 | 3.0 | 3 | 2 |
| 20 | Utah Mammoth | 12 | 3.0 | 2 | |
| 21 | Carolina Hurricanes | 12 | 3.0 | 2 | 1 |
| 22 | Dallas Stars | 12 | 3.0 | 2 | 1 |
| 23 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 12 | 3.0 | 2 | 2 |
| 24 | Vancouver Canucks | 12 | 3.0 | 1 | |
| 25 | Nashville Predators | 12 | 3.0 | 1 | 1 |
| 26 | St. Louis Blues | 12 | 3.0 | 0 | |
| 27 | New York Rangers | 11 | 2.8 | 3 | |
| 28 | Los Angeles Kings | 11 | 2.8 | 2 | 1 |
| 29 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 11 | 2.8 | 2 | 2 |
| 30 | New York Islanders | 11 | 2.8 | 1 | |
| 31 | Seattle Kraken | 10 | 2.5 | 3 | |
| 32 | Washington Capitals | 10 | 2.5 | 3 | 2 |
Streaming by schedule: fantasy week 3 (Oct 12–18)
In fantasy week 3 (Oct 12–18), 6 teams play 4 games (Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators and Vegas Golden Knights), while 2 teams play only 2 games.
Most off-night games in fantasy week 3 (Oct 12–18): Minnesota Wild (2), Colorado Avalanche (2), Buffalo Sabres (1), Florida Panthers (1), New Jersey Devils (1) and Ottawa Senators (1). Their skaters are the first place to look for a streamer.
- 4 games
- Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators and Vegas Golden Knights
- 3 games
- Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Calgary Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens, Nashville Predators, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Seattle Kraken, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, Utah Mammoth, Vancouver Canucks, Winnipeg Jets and Washington Capitals
- 2 games
- Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings
Off-nights: the edge in daily-lineup leagues
An off-night is any night with fewer than 10 NHL games. Your regular starters crowd the busy nights, so a streamer whose team plays on off-nights adds games you would otherwise leave empty. A four-game week with two off-nights beats a four-game week that lands on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Open the Players view to rank available players by off-night games and expected shots, points, hits, blocks or goalie stats over any dates, then export the list as CSV. For goalies, pair it with tonight's starting goalies and Back-to-backs & rest; for skaters, check NHL lines today before you add a depth player.
Need the whole season at a glance? The NHL games per week grid lists every team's game count for every week. Then plan categories in the Week Planner or rank pickups with projections and deployment in Streamer Finder.
Schedule Optimizer FAQ
What does a fantasy hockey schedule optimizer do?
It turns the NHL schedule into streaming decisions. For any fantasy week it ranks all 32 teams by games, off-night games and back-to-backs, shows which nights are light, and looks two and four weeks ahead. The Players view then lists low-rostered skaters and goalies on those teams for any date range up to 90 days, sorted by off-night games and expected production.
What is an off-night in fantasy hockey?
An off-night is a night with a light NHL schedule. We count any night with fewer than 10 games as an off-night. In daily-lineup leagues most of your starters play on busy nights, so a pickup who plays on off-nights fills empty roster slots instead of sitting on your bench.
How do I stream by schedule?
Pick teams with four games this week, prefer the ones whose games fall on off-nights, then add the best low-rostered player on those teams for the category you need. Back-to-backs are fine for skaters but usually mean a goalie split. Check the two- and four-week views before you drop a player for a one-week bump.
Where did the weekly streaming planner go?
It is the Players view of the Schedule Optimizer now: the same any-date-range search (up to 90 days), off-nights-first sort, maximum rostered %, minimum games and CSV export, with current projections where we have them and last season's rate otherwise. Old streaming planner links open the Players view.
How is this different from NHL games per week?
NHL games per week is the season-long reference grid: every team's game count for every week of the season on one page. The Schedule Optimizer is the decision tool for one week at a time: off-night timing, back-to-backs, the day-by-day distribution, multi-week outlooks and the players to stream.