<p>Identifying the players with four games each week and filling your roster with those players can increase your chances of winning your fantasy hockey matchup. That’s why our&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/nhl-weekly-schedule/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Weekly Schedule tool</a>&nbsp;is so helpful!</p>



<p>I combined that weekly schedule with a Team Defense Score I created using key defensive metrics to find which teams/skaters have the best schedule this week. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>How it Works:</strong></h2>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Team Defensive Ratings are given on a scale of 0-100, with 0 being the best possible defensive team and 100 being the worst.</li>



<li>SCORE: The sum of all the Defensive Ratings the team will face this week.</li>



<li>AVG Opponent: The Average Defensive Ratings that the team will face this week. </li>



<li>The strength of the Schedule is determined by the sum of defensive ratings because we want players who play the most games but also have the easiest matchups.</li>



<li>Light Nights: A night in the NHL with eight or fewer games. </li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-week-26-strength-of-schedule"><strong>Week 9 – Strength of Schedule</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screen-Shot-2024-12-02-at-8.47.38-AM.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="812" src="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screen-Shot-2024-12-02-at-8.47.38-AM-1024x812.png" alt="" class="wp-image-186773" srcset="https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screen-Shot-2024-12-02-at-8.47.38-AM-1024x812.png 1024w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screen-Shot-2024-12-02-at-8.47.38-AM-300x238.png 300w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screen-Shot-2024-12-02-at-8.47.38-AM-768x609.png 768w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screen-Shot-2024-12-02-at-8.47.38-AM-150x119.png 150w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screen-Shot-2024-12-02-at-8.47.38-AM-600x476.png 600w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screen-Shot-2024-12-02-at-8.47.38-AM-696x552.png 696w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screen-Shot-2024-12-02-at-8.47.38-AM-1068x847.png 1068w, https://publish.dailyfaceoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screen-Shot-2024-12-02-at-8.47.38-AM.png 1074w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></a></figure>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-css-opacity">



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Week 9 Streaming Targets</strong></h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Winnipeg Jets</strong></h2>



<p>The Jets have the No.1 ranked strength of schedule this week and are one of seven teams with four games, but unfortunately, only one light-night game. Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday aren’t overly busy, so you may have a spot open in your lineup to squeeze them in. Just look before picking up any Jets.</p>



<p><strong>Gabe Vilardi (C/RW) – 44% Rostered</strong></p>



<p>The chances of Vilardi being available in competitive leagues are slim to none, but if he is, hopefully, you can squeeze him into your lineup this week. Vilardi only has one goal in his last five games but had 13 points (8G / 5A) in his previous 14 games. Vilardi continues to skate on the Jets’ top line and top power-play unit, which ranks second in the NHL in conversion rate (31.5%). Despite his recent lack of production, Vilardi is still playing massive minutes (18:55) atop the lineup.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="207"></div>



<p><strong>Cole Perfetti (C/LW) – 30% Rostered</strong></p>



<p>Perfetti has only picked up a point in nine of 25 games this season but has five multi-point games. Perfetti has eight points (3G / 5A) in his last 14 games but doesn’t possess great shot volume (1.6 SOG/gm) or usage (14:29 ATOI). I would check on the availability of other streamers in this post before scooping up Perfetti for the week.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Toronto Maple Leafs</strong></h2>



<p>The Maple Leafs are easier to get into your lineups this week. Their strength of schedule is nearly identical to the Jets’, and they have three light-night games, tied for second-most this week.</p>



<p><strong>Matthew Knies (LW) – 43% Rostered</strong></p>



<p>Like Vilardi, there’s a slim chance that Knies is available in competitive leagues. On the odd chance that he is, Knies has been excellent this season, and comes into the week with seven points (3G / 4A) in his last eight games. It would be nice to see more shot volume out of Knies, but he gets to the dirty areas of the ice and generates a lot of high-danger looks. Recently, the Maple Leafs have been going with a five-forward PP1, including Knies, giving him additional upside this week.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="197"></div>



<p><strong>Nicholas Robertson (LW) – 1% Rostered</strong></p>



<p>You’re probably going to need to dig deeper into the Maple Leafs lineup, and Robertson is the only one playing in a top-9 role and seeing at least a little bit of power-play time. With Bobby McMann on IR, Robertson should remain in the lineup this week, but he has just one goal in his last 13 games. He’s averaging 2.0 SOG/gm over these last five games, though.</p>



<p><strong>Fraser Minten (C) – 2% Rostered</strong></p>



<p>Minten was a better streaming option when Auston Matthews was out of the lineup, averaging over 15 minutes per game. However, he played just 11:31 TOI with no PP exposure with Matthews back on Saturday. He’s worth considering for his three points (1G / 2A) in four games.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Dallas Stars</strong></h2>



<p>The Stars don’t have a super easy schedule this week; they rank 20th in average opponent rating. But they’re one of seven teams with four games and the only team that plays on all four light nights. You’ll have no problem getting Dallas players into your lineup, but some of the matchups are going to be tough.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="185"></div>



<p>The Stars only have streaming targets if <strong>Tyler Seguin</strong> (C/RW – 48% Rostered) or <strong>Logan Stankoven</strong> (C/RW – 38%) is available in your league. On Stankoven, make sure he’s back in the lineup on Monday; he missed the last two games due to an injury.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>New York Rangers</strong></h2>



<p>The Rangers only have three games this week, but all three are on light nights, and they have the eighth-easiest average opponent rating.</p>



<p><strong>Will Cuylle (LW) – 41% Rostered</strong></p>



<p>Cuylle’s own% has skyrocketed in recent weeks, having scored five goals with six assists (11 points) in his last 10 games. More recently, he’s been playing on the Rangers’ top line, averaging 18:46 TOI/gm. In their last game, he was with Filip Chytil and Artemi Panarin. He showed terrific chemistry with Chytil in a third-line role earlier in the season, and now getting Panarin on the other wing gives them more offensive upside and will afford them more 5v5 usage.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="154"></div>



<p><strong>Filip Chytil (C) – 2% Rostered</strong></p>



<p>Chytil returned to the Rangers lineup on Saturday and was held off the scoresheet with one shot on goal in 16:22 TOI. Before getting injured, Chytil had nine points (4G / 5A) in 15 games. Now playing a top-line role with Panarin and Cuylle, Chitin’s usage should increase, making him a great streaming target this week.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>New Jersey Devils</strong></h2>



<p>Like the Rangers, the Devils have only three games this week, but all three are on light nights. They are right behind New York with the ninth-easiest average opponent rating.</p>



<p>Like the Stars, the Devils don’t have many great streaming targets because their offence is concentrated to a handful of players. Stefan Noesen (LW/RW – 54%) is still available in 46 percent of leagues; if you’re in one of those leagues, he’s a must-add. The Nico Hischier line has been dominant this year, and Noesen remains on the top of the power play unit. He has eight points (6G / 2A) in his last eight games. Unfortunately, you’ll probably have to settle for Dawson Mercer (C/RW – 15%). He’s in a third-line role and on PP2 and has just two assists in his last seven games. He’s still going to play big minutes because he plays in all situations but lacks high offensive upside.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="216"></div>
