A tough decision can be made easier with these charts showing you the best five and worst five schedules for upcoming seven-day periods. Some of you used them last year but for the benefit of new readers here is a refresher. The number next to the team indicates the ‘multiplier’ to use on a player’s point-per-game pace to give you an idea how many points to expect for that week.

The Penguins penalty kill has been simply off the charts so far this season. Through 12 games (shorthanded 37 times), they have still only allowed one powerplay goal against. To top that off, they have managed to score three shorthanded goals already. They have a five day break coming up next week, but if you are hoping to gain an edge in powerplay points this weekend, don't expect any Leafs to help you out when they play Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Staying with the Penguins, their games played advantage is still evident over most teams in the league. I traded Jordan Staal for Derek Roy in my one year league, and although I was greeted the next day with the news that Roy was off their powerplay for now, the games I am gaining will pay dividends for my team.

The Jets started their first lengthy road trip in…….curious fashion. Thursday's 9-8 road hockey game against the Flyers was their first of seven straight away from home in which they will face Tampa, Florida, Long Island, New Jersey, New York and Buffalo. They have still yet to win on the road and have allowed at least four goals in each of their five games so far this season.

The team with the fewest goals against per game is not the near perfect penalty killing Penguins or even Jonathan Quick and the Kings, but the upstart Edmonton Oilers squad led by none other than Nikolai Khabibulin. They have had the benefit of lots of home cooking over the first month though, with only two road games thus far. After a matchup Sunday in Edmonton against St. Louis, they will set out on a six game road trip through LA, Phoenix, Montreal, Boston, Detroit and Chicago. I expect them to be well prepared as they have a four day break between playing  St.Louis and the Kings.

Monthly Look Ahead

If you are looking at taking advantage of some games played differences when scouring your league for trades, here is a look at team totals for the month of November.

15 Games: Carolina, Minnesota

14 Games: Buffalo, Calgary, Chicago, Colorado, Detroit, Edmonton, Los Angeles, Montreal, New Jersey, Toronto, Washington,

13 Games: Anaheim, Boston, Dallas, Florida, Nashville, Long Island, Phoenix, St. Louis, Tampa Bay, Vancouver, Winnipeg

12 Games: Columbus, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh

11 Games: New York Rangers, San Jose

Can you think of a slow starter on Carolina who is perfect to target right now? I'll give you a hint; he has more brothers in the NHL than you do

Last season, the Ducks started 7-1-1 at home but only 3-7-2 on the road. While they were eventually able to pull up that lackluster road record because of a strong finish, I will be watching them very closely as they are about to set out on an early seven game road trip.