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.”
Los Angeles Kings schedule analysis
Total mileage: 55,591 (most miles in NHL; most in Pacific Division)
Back-to-back games: 15
Toughest stretches
The Kings start the season off with a tough stretch as they travel nine time zones to open the season with a back-to-back in Berlin and Stockholm. When they come back to the United States, they’ll make a pit stop on the East Coast to face the Devils and Flyers before they make it back to the West Coast.
By far, the toughest span for the Kings will be in the second half of the season between February 3 and March 11. The Kings will play 14 of 18 games on the road, including five separate back-to-back situations. Within the run of away games, they’ll face off with teams in the Midwest, Southeast, and New York before finally finishing with a pair of games against the Red Wings and Blackhawks.
Easiest periods
The month of January should be kind to the Kings this season. Their friendly stretch of 10 out of 13 games at Staples Center actually starts on New Year’s Eve and runs through February 1. A pair of games against the Flames, Avalanche and Blue Jackets; in addition to games against the Stars, Blue Jackets, Coyotes, and Senators should set up nicely for the team looking for a mid-season hot streak.
Los Angles also has a seven game stretch starting on November 3 when they won’t have to leave California for two weeks.
Overall outlook
By just about any measure, the Kings have a ton of traveling to do this season. They’ll travel more than any other team this season—by a sizeable margin. The Kings 55,591 miles they’ll travel this season is almost 3,000 more than the next closest team (Florida). Starting the season with back-to-back games in Europe set the tone (both of which are somehow “home” games). In fact, they don’t play their first game at Staples Center until October 18.
It’ll be important for the Kings to take advantage of their favorable schedule in January because afterwards they’ll have to deal with an extremely difficult five week stretch of games.