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Blackhawks first half schedule could lead to schizophrenic tendencies

Corey Crawford, Jonathan Toews

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford (50) celebrates with teammate Jonathan Toews (19) after they defeated the Washington Capitals 3-2 during an NHL preseason hockey game in Chicago, Friday, Sept. 23, 2011. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

AP

With the 2011-12 season rapidly approaching, the gang at PHT decided to take a look at all 30 NHL teams’ schedules. Each team’s highs and lows will be studied in detail to give you an idea of what the future might hold for each squad.

Note: Mileage figures via On the Forecheck’s “Super Schedule.”

Chicago Blackhawks schedule analysis

Total mileage: 39,288 (17th most in NHL, but second easiest in Central Division)

Back-to-back games: 17

Toughest stretches

Elite teams expect to win every single game they enter. But for the Hawks, there will be two stretches of games where it’ll be all about survival. November is going to be a rough month for the fans of the Four Feathers. From November 3rd to November 26th, the Hawks will play 13 games in 11 different cities. If they can survive the dress rehearsal in November, a 9-game road trip in between January 31 and February 18 will give the team ample opportunity to prove to league that they’re among the NHL’s elite.

Easiest periods

The Hawks have a couple of tough stretches, but the NHL schedule makers gave the Blackhawks and their fans a great gift for the holidays this year. Between December 16th and January 20th, the Hawks will play 14 out of 17 games at the United Center. They only play three games outside Chicago—all of which are sandwiched between homestands. Within the stretch, the Hawks get a couple of games against the Blue Jackets, as well as visits from the Wild, Avalanche, Oilers, and Panthers. If Toews and Co. want to compete for the Central Division (and Western Conference) crown, they’ll need to make the most of the home cookin’.

Overall outlook

The Hawks are will display impressive maturity to navigate their 2011-12 schedule. Long road trips can wear on a team—likewise, homestands that last too long can pull players in multiple directions with their personal lives. Don’t be surprised of the Hawks look like a schizophrenic team that goes hits a rough patch in November and rights the ship during the holidays and after the new year.

The schedule makers didn’t do the Hawks any favors in the back-to-back area either. Their 17 back-to-back situations are tied for the second most in the league and most in the Western Conference. If they can stay focused through the long homestands, longer road trips, and gang of back-to-back games, the Central Division better watch out.