Fansided

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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Apr 9, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; The Columbus Blue Jackets salute the fans after defeating the Chicago Blackhawks at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets won 5-4 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; The Columbus Blue Jackets salute the fans after defeating the Chicago Blackhawks at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets won 5-4 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Columbus Blue Jackets

Last season was supposed to be the year when the Blue Jackets finally turned things around, but the team still managed to finish last in the Metropolitan Division. Columbus should be improved by the third overall pick, yet they play in a pretty tough division.

During the 2016-17 season, they will face the defending President Trophy-winning Washington Capitals five times. In addition, the Blue Jackets will meet the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins four times. Columbus faces off against divisional opponents 30 times next season, and five of them were playoff teams.

Columbus’ schedule is also filled with back-to-back games that sees the team traveling across the country in between. On November 9th, the Blue Jackets play a 7 pm game in Anaheim, then fly home to play Boston the next day. Later that month, the team has a stretch of five games in seven nights. In total, the Blue Jackets’ schedule features 13 back-to-back games.

With a schedule like that and a roster that is likely to be very similar to last season’s, it will likely be another tough road to the playoffs for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

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