Fantasy Hockey Schedule Hacks: Who Plays the Most in Week 1?
September 6, 2025
Draft day is only the beginning. The managers who win early often do it by squeezing every last game out of their rosters.
The easiest way to gain an edge in Week 1 is by targeting teams that play the most games — and especially those with off-night matchups (Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun) when benches are usually empty.
Let’s break down the 2025–26 Week 1 schedule (Oct 6–12).
Why Week 1 Matters
Early wins in head-to-head leagues build momentum, but they don’t happen by accident — they happen when managers maximize man-games played.
If you used a late-round pick on a depth player who only plays twice in Week 1, ask yourself: is it worth holding him when you could stream a skater from a team with four games? For example, the New York Rangers are the only team with a four-game slate in Week 1. Dropping a fringe player for a Ranger could instantly double your games out of that roster spot.
Better yet, if you drafted a Los Angeles King who plays Tuesday and Wednesday and then cut him, you could add a Ranger who plays Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. That’s five man-games from one roster spot with just a single transaction.
Many managers are hesitant to drop draft picks too soon. Don’t be. In Week 1, most of those fringe players won’t be claimed right away — and even if they are, your opponent is inheriting a player with fewer games, not more. This is the moment where decisiveness is rewarded, because early-season waiver competition is usually lighter.
The math is simple: four games from a streamer averaging 3 shots and 2 hits per game could net you 12 shots and 8 hits. Compare that to holding a two-game depth piece with the same averages — you’re leaving half the production on your bench.
Most importantly, Week 1 is the time to practice the habit of maximizing man-games. Matchups are often decided by razor-thin margins — a single assist, block, or faceoff win. By getting into this routine early, you’re setting yourself up not just for Week 1, but for a playoff push months down the line.
Teams with the Most Games in Week 1
Week 1 of the NHL season is unique. Games don’t start until Tuesday, Oct 7, with only three matchups:
- Chicago at Florida
- Pittsburgh at New York Rangers
- Colorado at Los Angeles
That’s a surprisingly light Tuesday slate, making it an ideal day to squeeze in streamers before benches clog up on the heavier nights.
Thursday (14 games) and Saturday (16 games) will leave most rosters full, while Friday has no games at all.
Sunday closes the week with just one matchup — Washington at New York Rangers.
This means the Rangers, Kings, and Capitals stand out as the most important schedule targets in Week 1.
Los Angeles Kings – Tue, Wed, Sat (3 games)
The Kings are the premium early-week play. Drafting or streaming a King gives you back-to-back games on Tuesday and Wednesday before Thursday’s logjam. This means you can bank two man-games from one roster spot before benches start overflowing later in the week.
- Ideal use: draft a depth King late, get two games, then drop for a new streamer Thursday.
- Bonus: still a third game on Saturday, but the real value is those early off-nights.
New York Rangers – Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun (4 games)
The Rangers are the only team with four games in Week 1, and they finish with a rare Sunday matchup against Washington. That means a Ranger skater could realistically play on both a light Tuesday and an ultra-quiet Sunday, giving you two near-guaranteed starts when most of your roster is idle.
- Ideal use: stream a Ranger on Tuesday, hold for Thursday/Saturday, and finish strong on Sunday.
- This is how you turn one pickup into four man-games, capped by a lonely Sunday lineup slot.
- Pro move: pair a King (Tue/Wed) with a Ranger (Thu/Sat/Sun) for five games out of one roster spot in a single week.
Washington Capitals – Wed, Sat, Sun (3 games)
The Capitals are sneaky valuable because of their quiet-night schedule. With games on Wednesday and Sunday, a Capital is almost guaranteed to slide into your lineup without conflict. While they don’t hit four games like the Rangers, they may be easier to grab on waivers and still give you two high-leverage starts.
- Ideal use: grab a Capital for Wednesday/Sunday if you’re already full on Thursday/Saturday.
- Works especially well in deeper leagues where premium streamers disappear fast.
Other 3-Game Teams
Beyond the big three, several other clubs offer three-game weeks: Boston, Calgary, Montreal, Vegas, Chicago, Colorado, Florida, and Pittsburgh.
These teams don’t have the same off-night leverage, but they’re still worth targeting for depth, especially if you already roster a player from them.
👉 The key takeaway: maximize early-week Kings, ride the full-week Rangers, and sneak in Caps on the quiet nights. Everything else is secondary.
Streamer Profiles to Target
When choosing Week 1 streamers, look for these archetypes:
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Peripheral Grinders: Players who rack up hits and blocks. In a four-game week, someone averaging 3 hits per game could give you 12+ hits, while the same player in a two-game week would give you only 6. These players are often on the waiver wire and can swing physical categories.
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Faceoff Specialists: Depth centers who take a high volume of draws. A 55% faceoff guy taking 12 per game can net you 25+ wins in a 4-game week.
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Shot Volume Guys: Wingers who consistently pepper the net. A 3-shots-per-game player suddenly gives you 12 attempts in one week instead of 6. That can be the difference in SOG categories.
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Versatile Skaters: Dual-eligible players shine because they can slide into multiple lineup spots. Their flexibility means they’re far more likely to fit into your empty slots, where a single-position player might be stuck on your bench.
👉 Use the Rankings page to filter for minimum thresholds (HIT, BLK, SOG, FW) and lock in streamers who will maximize categories for your roster.
Off-Night Advantage
Why do off-nights matter?
- Typical NHL schedule stacks games on Tue/Thu/Sat.
- Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun are quieter → your bench players actually play.
- Example: a skater from a team with three off-night games could play every time your opponent has an empty slot, giving you an extra 6–9 shots or 10+ hits.
This is a general rule every week of the season, but Week 1 makes it even more important.
It’s rare to see only one game on a Sunday, and you can plan ahead to make sure you have the man-games to close out the week — not your opponent.
How to Replicate This Every Week
- Open the Rankings page.
- Select the week range (e.g., Week 1).
- Filter by off-night games.
- Shortlist streamers who cover weak spots in your roster.
Quick-Start Plan for Week 1
- Draft or add at least one LA or NYR skater in your stream spot to maximize Week 1 man-games.
- Stream positions that fit your empty lineup slots — don’t force a player in just because they’re dual-eligible.
- Look ahead to Week 2 using the Fantasy Optimizer to see which teams play the best schedules. Drop your Week 1 streamer and start all over again.
Final Thoughts
Week 1 is your best chance to lock in a quick win. Managers who play the schedule right out of the gate usually build a cushion that pays off later.
Use the tools at 4th Line Fantasy to:
- Spot 4-game teams early.
- Stream off-night depth players.
- Stay one week ahead of your opponent.
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