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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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Apr 9, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Matt Bartkowski (44) checks Edmonton Oilers forward Patrick Maroon (19) during the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Matt Bartkowski (44) checks Edmonton Oilers forward Patrick Maroon (19) during the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Edmonton Oilers/Vancouver Canucks

Last season was not very good for any of the seven Canadian teams in the NHL, as all of them missed the playoffs. It was expected from the Leafs, but no one could have predicted the Canadiens’ plummet down the standings. And Vancouver has the Sedins, while Edmonton should’ve had enough talent to finally put something together.

Vancouver has seemingly made the jump from a win now mentality to a sort of rebuild, but the Sedins are still playing well that they still want to take advantage of their talent. The result has been disastrous so far, and it is hard to imagine it changing any time soon. Vancouver also has the misfortune of playing in the more difficult West. There is nothing really awful about how their schedule is set up other than the fact that 54 of their 82 games will be against Western Conference opponents.

The same is true of the Edmonton Oilers’ schedule. Unless they improve their back end in the off-season, there is nothing to suggest that they will be much better than they have been for the past decade of this rebuild. Connor McDavid will hopefully stay healthy, which will do wonders for the offense, but the defense is still nowhere to be found.

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