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NHL: Five teams with tough roads to the playoffs

By Leah Smith

Feb 21, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; The NHL logo on display in a game between the Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks in the second period during a Stadium Series hockey game at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; The NHL logo on display in a game between the Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks in the second period during a Stadium Series hockey game at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 7, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer (34) and Toronto fans celebrate a win over the Edmonton Oilers at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Edmonton 5-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 7, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer (34) and Toronto fans celebrate a win over the Edmonton Oilers at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Edmonton 5-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Which five NHL teams will be looking at tough roads to the 2016-17 playoffs?

On Tuesday, the NHL announced the regular season schedule for the upcoming 2016-17 season, and it is now time to discuss which teams have the toughest road to the playoffs ahead of them. Most of these picks are based off of where teams finished in the standings and what their future potential could be. If teams have already made moves this off-season, those are also taken into account.

The Western Conference has proven to be the tougher conference to win in over the past few years, and that is reflected in this list. There are three teams representing the Pacific Division, one from the Metropolitan and one from the Atlantic. The Pacific is arguably the weakest division with two of the three playoff spots a virtual lock already. It will be interesting to see how Anaheim will adjust to the coaching change and if handing the starting goalie job to a 22-year old will pan out.

Weather it was travel concerns, a large number of back-to-back games, long stretches away from home, or the bad luck of facing the best teams too often, these are the five teams with tough roads ahead of them.

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