Every team in the NHL plays 82 games, 41 at home and 41 on the road. Division teams typically play each other four times, conference teams three times, and non-conference teams once at home and once away. Everyone gets a short break around Christmas and then a longer one in February.
In theory, it should all be equal for every team. But, it’s not. Due to travel, building availabilities, and a whole host of other factors, every single team’s schedule consists of some quirks.
The Golden Knights will play 13 back-to-backs this season including seven with both games on the road. They’ll face one five-game road trip, two four-game trips, and give three-game stints.
Here’s a look at the two toughest stretches of the 2024-25 regular season. Tomorrow we’ll look at the three easiest stretches.
November 20th to December 6th
@TOR, @OTT, @MTL, @PHI, @COL, WPG, UTA, EDM, @ANA, DAL
The Golden Knights will face a stretch of 10 games in 17 days including a five-game road trip, three back-to-backs, and games against five playoff teams from 2023-24. The road trip itself would be daunting enough flying across the country for three games in Canada before heading back West for a stop in Philadelphia and then Colorado, but the games directly after it might be even more challenging. After the long trip, there are four games in six days wrapping up with a one-day road trip to Southern California. If the Golden Knights can manage 10 points in this 10-game stretch it should be considered a massive win. In reality, the goal is probably going to be just avoiding it derailing the season.
March 28th to April 16th
@CHI, @NSH, EDM, WPG, @CGY, @VAN, @COL, SEA, NSH, @CGY, @VAN
Hopefully, VGK are comfortably in a playoff position as they head into the final month of the season because there’s a bit of a gauntlet down the stretch. There are three back-to-backs on the road, just four of the final 12 games at T-Mobile Arena, and every single game is against a Western Conference opponent. If the Golden Knights are chasing points, this could be a stretch that helps them make up ground on whoever they are chasing, but because of the end-of-season schedule, they’ll have to be well out ahead of everyone else to feel safe. Oh, and add in Jonathan Marchessault’s return to T-Mobile as the last home game of the regular season as part of all of this.
