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Look for the Detroit Red Wings to get off to a quick start this season

San Jose Sharks v Detroit Red Wings - Game Six

DETROIT - MAY 10: Pavel Datsyuk #13 and Henrik Zetterberg #40 of the Detroit Red Wings talk during the second period while playing the San Jose Sharks in Game Six of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 10, 2011 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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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.”

Detroit Red Wings schedule analysis

Total mileage: 42,865 (13th most in NHL, but most in the Central Division)

Back-to-back games: 14

Toughest stretches

The league is going to find out what the Detroit Red Wings are made of when December rolls around. Between December 13-26, they’ll play eight games in eight different cities. Within the stretch, they’ll face the Penguins, Canucks, Kings, and the Predators (twice). Road trips are tough—road trips against quality teams are brutal.

The make-or-break portion of the season will come in March. The Wings have a cruel two week period when they play (in order): Chicago, Philly, LA, Nashville, LA, Anaheim, San Jose, and Washington. As if that wasn’t rough enough, the game in Nashville is the second night of a back-to-back and is the beginning of a four game road trip. Another back-to-back in southern California with the Kings and Ducks won’t be easy either.

Easiest periods

With the tough stretches the Wings have later in the season, they better get off to a good start over the first couple of months. In that light, the Red Wings should feast on their schedule in the beginning of November. Between November 1-12, the Wings have their season long six game homestand against the Wild, Flames, Ducks, Avs, Oilers, and Stars. Let’s face it: any time you can play every team in the Northwest Division at home (not including the Canucks), it’s an easy part of the schedule.

Overall outlook

The bad news is that the Red Wings have the most travel within the Central Division this season. The good news is that just about everyone in the division (except Nashville) have more back-to-back situations to deal with. As is the case with a lot of teams around the league, it’s a mixed bag.

There’s no question the Wings will need to get off to a fast start. Their schedule gives Detroit an opportunity to stockpile a few points in the standings before they hit the rough patches later in the season. The vicious stretch in March should make or break their chances at a Central Division crown though. If they can escape with minimal damage, they will be in a good position going in to the playoffs (and if they can survive that stretch, they will go to the playoffs).

As far as playoff positioning goes: that date at home vs. the rival Blackhawks looms seems like it could be exciting, doesn’t it?