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Two brutal early stretches might doom Senators in 2011-12

Daniel Alfredsson

Ottawa Senators right wing Daniel Alfredsson, of Sweden, speaks with the media in Ottawa, Canada, Monday April 11, 2011. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Adrian Wyld)

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.”

Ottawa Senators schedule analysis

Total mileage: 33,915 (sixth lowest in NHL, third overall in Northeast Division)

Back-to-back games: 17

Toughest stretches

After a neutral October, things could unravel during a rough span from mid-November to early December. They’ll play six straight road games beginning in Buffalo on Nov. 11 followed by one home contest against Carolina and then three more away contests. That represents a scary stretch in which nine of their 10 games are away from Ottawa.

The rest of December and the first two games in January could provide a reprieve, but things start getting ugly again beginning with a home-and-home against the Flyers (at Philly on Jan. 7; home on Jan. 8). They’ll play 10 of 12 games on the road, including six-straight away contests to close out the first month of 2012.

It’s nothing compared to those two brutal spans, but they’ll also play four of five road games in late March and early April.

Easiest periods

After starting the season with two games on the road, the Senators will play five of six at home to kick off October. A favorable run in December could provide them a strong bounce back opportunity after that brutal November stretch with 10 out of 12 games at home.

February provides some solid opportunities, with a five-game and three-game homestand (although they’ll also have a three-game road swing). March isn’t half-bad either, as they’ll play five of six in Ottawa during one period of time.

Overall outlook

Sure, the Senators get a few nice homestands to work with, but two early (and brutal) road runs could place them a bit too firmly in the Northeast Division’s cellar. Naturally, if Ottawa can scrap their way through those formidable away streaks, they might have a chance to do a little damage.

Overall, it seems like their schedule isn’t doing them many favors, although a light amount of travel could be a godsend for aging captain Daniel Alfredsson. Then again, if the plan is to continue rebuilding, a bad beginning could help justify another fire sale (and maybe a run toward probable 2012 top pick Nail Yakupov).