Back-to-Back games

by BigSlice on Jan 26, 2012 9:47 AM EST

OK, so without going through the schedule for all 30 teams, I have to wonder if the Senators have had a "fair" schedule this season. I went through and counted no less than 17 times when the Sens are forced to play games on consecutive nights... and for the most part, game two is against a tough (Boston, NYR) or hated (Leafs, Habs) opponent.

Now, call this fan bias if you must, but does anyone know an easy way to determine how many B2B games other teams have to deal with? I realize that there will be times when it is necessary, due to concerts, arena availability and whatnot, but 17 times (34 games total) in an 82 game season seems a bit high to me.

Not only are there an unusually-high (to me, at least) number of back-to-back games, but there are also a huge number of weeks when we play a ridiculous amount of hockey, such as 4 games in 6 nights, 3 games in 4 nights, etc.

I'm just curious to see if this is, in fact, unfair.

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Even if it is unfair, what can we do about it?

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by Mark Parisi on Jan 26, 2012 10:22 AM EST reply actions

Oh, there's nothing to be done about it, that's for sure...

I wasn’t suggesting an uprising or anything like that… it was more out of curiosity. Plus, it would be nice to have some sort of excuse to give these Leaf fans surrounding me in the GTA if the Sens do fall from grace a little bit. Maybe excuse is a bad word choice… explanation, maybe. It’s hard to gain momentum when you’re always tired, and fighting time changes.

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by BigSlice on Jan 26, 2012 11:11 AM EST up reply actions

Also consider though

that the Sens have to travel alot less (and whatever fatigue and wear associated with travel, would be less) than the typical West team, since Eastern teams are clustered, and Western teams are all over the map.

I would say the Stars probably have the most to complain about, in this regard, though my US geography isn’t the best….

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by PekKarlsson on Jan 26, 2012 12:21 PM EST up reply actions

What about Winnipeg?

They have a pretty intense travel schedule being in the Southeast.

by The Tif on Jan 26, 2012 5:06 PM EST up reply actions

True

but Dallas seems to rack up the most miles, year after year.

Winnipeg’s situation is tough, and hopefully, short-term.

"If you aren't diving, you aren't trying"-Jordin Tootoo
PekKarlsson: The genetic mutant solution to all of Nashville and Ottawa's problems. Shea and Alfie approve.

by PekKarlsson on Jan 26, 2012 6:41 PM EST up reply actions

Not Really

They play against all the southeast teams at once and then head back home. It’s harder on the other Southeast teams who go on a road swing of Washington, Winnipeg, Tampa. That’s shitty travel.

by ojc on Jan 27, 2012 2:05 PM EST up reply actions

Other Eastern Conference playoff contenders

Toronto – 16
Boston – 13
Pittsburgh – 15
Philly – 11
Ranger – 11
New Jersey – 14
Washington – 10
Florida – 14
Winnipeg – 12

So yeah, we’re getting screwed.

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by modsuperstar on Jan 26, 2012 11:37 AM EST reply actions

With that said though Boston and Philly have some crummy schedules coming up to make up those games in hard. Philly plays every second day for the month of March, Boston has loads of back to backs in February and March. We could still make up ground yet with a less hectic schedule down the stretch as other teams have to go through the fire.

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by modsuperstar on Jan 26, 2012 11:44 AM EST up reply actions

We also have 5 games on a bunch of teams, and I think at least 2 on EVERY OTHER TEAM.

So our schedule should open up soon.

by The Tif on Jan 26, 2012 5:07 PM EST up reply actions

We've only got 1 on Carolina and Colorado

Most of the eastern teams have 3 or 4 on us though, with Winnipeg having 2, and Rangers and Boston having 5.

by B_T on Jan 27, 2012 1:36 PM EST up reply actions

Comprehensive List

is found every year courtesy of Ontheforecheck and Dirk Hoag, the Predator SB nation site and blogger.

http://www.ontheforecheck.com/2011/6/23/2240779/nhl-travel-miles-by-team-super-schedule.

Perhaps its less of an issue to schedule Eastern teams B2B than Western teams, given that Western teams generally have farther to go?

Can’t comment on the discrepancy b/w eastern teams, though.

"If you aren't diving, you aren't trying"-Jordin Tootoo
PekKarlsson: The genetic mutant solution to all of Nashville and Ottawa's problems. Shea and Alfie approve.

by PekKarlsson on Jan 26, 2012 12:18 PM EST reply actions