The Montreal Canadiens are going to be looking to make the playoffs for the third straight season this upcoming year, and if they are able to do so, it would be the first time since they went three straight years from 2012-13 through 2014-15.
There are certainly challenges this upcoming season, and the Canadiens are going to have to navigate a very good Atlantic Division. However, the NHL schedule makers gave them a huge advantage that makes them the envy of the rest of the league.
Montreal Canadiens have the most games against teams in the second half of a back-to-back
According to Jason Gregor, the Canadiens lead the league in games where their opponent is entering the game playing the night before. That total stands at 19 and is one game ahead of the Anaheim Ducks, but three games ahead of the Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues, who are third with 16.
It is also well ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets, who have the fewest this upcoming season with only five. When combining this with the fact that the Canadiens have the third fewest back-to-backs with only 10, it should help them manage a season that is going to be longer than most players have experienced, with 84 games on the schedule this season.
Last season, the Canadiens came up just three points short of the Buffalo Sabres for the Atlantic Division and lost the tiebreaker to the Tampa Bay Lightning to finish third. This season, the Sabres and Lightning once again should be near the top, but they can't overlook the Florida Panthers, who are expected to be competitive once again.
The Canadiens are still going to have to win games, but this schedule advantage next season could be the deciding factor between being a Wild Card team or winning the Atlantic Division.
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