Fantasy Hockey Playoff Strategy: Why Minnesota Wild Skaters Are Must-Haves

As the NHL regular season winds down, fantasy hockey managers face critical roster decisions. Teams with flexible daily transactions can maximize points by targeting players with favorable schedules—particularly on lighter game nights (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays). The Minnesota Wild stand out this week with four games on off-peak nights, making their skaters prime streaming options.

Key Minnesota Wild Plays:

• Ryan Hartman & Frederick Gaudreau (F) – With top-line minutes due to injuries (Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek), both offer sneaky value.
• Jared Spurgeon (D) – Averaging 2.1 fantasy points/game over the past month, Spurgeon blocks shots, logs power-play time, and fills the stat sheet.

Schedule Advantage:

• Wild’s 4-game stretch: @ Devils, @ Rangers, @ Islanders, vs. Stars (Sunday).
• Avoid: Devils, Rangers, Flyers, and Maple Leafs (only 2 games this week).

Top Waiver-Wire Targets for Championship Runs

Forwards to Add Now:

1. Jonathan Drouin (COL) – Riding hot streak (1G, 6A in 5 games) alongside Nathan MacKinnon. Plays Monday/Wednesday vs. Flames/Blackhawks.
2. Boone Jenner (CBJ) – Four-game point streak (5G, 1A). Blue Jackets play Nashville, Colorado, Toronto, Ottawa.
3. Taylor Hall (CAR) – 11 points in 9 games since trade. Target for Wednesday’s 3-games-in-4-days stretch.
4. Leo Carlsson (ANA) – Rookie breakout (11G, 10A in 19 games). Stash for next week’s softer schedule.

Deep-League Gems:

• Luke Evangelista (NSH): Top-line role with Filip Forsberg. Stream for 3 games in 4 days (Mon-Thu).
• Mackie Samoskevich (FLA): Promoted to scoring line with Brad Marchand. Four road games this week.

Goalie Streamers:

• Scott Wedgewood (COL): 5 straight wins; ideal for Wednesday’s matchup vs. Blackhawks.
• Joel Hofer (STL): Allowing just 5 goals in last 4 starts. Thursday start vs. Penguins likely.

Pro Tip: Schedule Mastery Wins Championships

• Drop/Add Aggressively: Prioritize players with back-to-back off-night games (e.g., Matt Coronato for Mon-Wed, then swap for weekend streamers).
• Monitor Injuries: Wild’s Kaprizov/Eriksson Ek updates could shift opportunities.

Need more? Check out ESPN’s Fantasy Playoff Guide for rankings and strength-of-schedule tools.