Fantasy Hockey Streaming: Best Schedule Plays for Jan 26–Feb 1

The final stretch before the Olympic break is all about squeezing every game you can out of your roster. This week’s schedule gives a clear edge to managers who lean into light nights and back-to-backs, especially from teams with four or more games. With the Los Angeles Kings playing a massive five-game slate and clubs like Boston and Columbus also busy, it’s a prime week to stream aggressively and bench skaters stuck on two-game schedules.

What’s New & Why It Matters

The headline is volume: the Kings have a rare five-game week, while the Boston Bruins and Columbus also get four games. On the flip side, Calgary and Pittsburgh only play twice, making many of their fringe players easy cuts or bench options in daily formats. The combination of heavy slates and lighter nights means you can often slot in an extra skater or goalie without bumping a star from your active lineup.

Injuries also shape the landscape. Anaheim is missing Leo Carlsson, which removes a potential depth scorer from consideration and further weakens a thin offense. Meanwhile, Jeremy Swayman is positioned for multiple starts during Boston’s four-game run, making him one of the best goalie plays of the week. The looming Olympic break adds urgency: this is one of your last big chances to bank volume before a long pause, and non-Olympic players could come out of the break fresher than their star teammates.

Fantasy Implications

Points-Only

In points-only formats, prioritize teams with four or more games and top-six exposure. The Kings’ five-game schedule makes Adrian Kempe a premium short-term play; a top-six winger with strong usage can outscore bigger names who only play twice. Similarly, Columbus’ four-game week elevates Mason Marchment, whose recent scoring surge turns him from a fringe option into a legitimate starter while the Blue Jackets are busy.

Boston’s four games boost the value of their core skaters, and a defenseman like Charlie McAvoy becomes especially appealing if you can slot him in on lighter nights. On the other hand, injured players such as Leo Carlsson are automatic sits; with so many games available from healthy options, you simply can’t afford dead roster spots in a condensed week.

Categories / Bangers

In multi-category leagues, volume is even more powerful. Extra games mean more shots, hits, blocks and power-play chances. Marchment is a classic categories asset: a middle-six forward on Columbus who can chip in offense while contributing in the physical stats. Over four games, that profile can swing weekly matchups in hits and shots even if he doesn’t find the scoresheet every night.

Boston’s schedule also helps you lean into goalie categories. Swayman’s expected workload in a four-game week gives you multiple cracks at wins, save percentage and potentially a shutout. Conversely, players on Calgary and Pittsburgh who don’t bring multi-cat juice are easy drops or bench options; two games from a low-volume winger rarely beats four or five games from a streamer with better peripheral rates.

Dynasty / Keeper

For dynasty and keeper formats, the schedule still matters, but the focus shifts to long-term value. This week is a reminder of how impactful deployment can be: Kempe’s role as a top-six winger on a team that can occasionally deliver five-game weeks makes him a strong long-term hold, not just a streamer. Managers in deeper formats should note how often the Kings lean on him in heavy stretches.

Injuries like Carlsson’s thigh issue are frustrating, but they shouldn’t dramatically change his long-term valuation. He’s a clear avoid for this week and likely beyond until healthy, yet remains a stash in deep dynasty leagues. Meanwhile, elite producers such as Nikita Kucherov are prime targets in keeper trades: his Hart-level form and power-play role make him worth paying up for, especially if his current manager is worried about schedule quirks or the Olympic break.

Who to Add / Stream / Watch

Adrian Kempe – Add/Stream (standard & deep): Five-game Kings week plus top-six usage gives him a strong chance to outproduce many bigger names on lighter schedules.
Mason Marchment – Add (categories): Riding a hot scoring streak in Columbus and brings hits and shots across four games, ideal for bangers formats.
Jeremy Swayman – Must-start (all formats): Expected to grab multiple starts in Boston’s four-game slate, offering strong win and ratio upside.
Charlie McAvoy – Stream/Start (points & multicat): Heavy minutes and recent offensive form make him a high-impact blue-liner for Boston’s busy week.
Nikita Kucherov – Trade target (points-only): In elite form and locked into top-line, top power-play usage; explore deals using the NHL Trade Analyzer to structure fair offers.
Leo Carlsson – Drop/Avoid (all formats): Out with a thigh injury and with Anaheim’s offense limited, there’s no reason to hold in shallow and most standard leagues.

Fantasy Takeaways

Lean into the Kings’ five-game schedule by streaming Adrian Kempe and other Los Angeles skaters wherever they fit your lineup.
Target four-game teams like Boston and Columbus for depth scoring, peripherals and goalie volume, especially in daily-moves leagues.
Start Jeremy Swayman confidently; his expected workload during a four-game Bruins week makes him a top goalie play.
Avoid injured players such as Leo Carlsson this week; with so many games available, you can’t afford inactive roster spots.
Use the busy pre-break schedule to buy high-end talent like Nikita Kucherov in trades, capitalizing on managers worried about upcoming disruptions.

Source: RotoWire. See the original for full details.