Mishkin's Musings: Thoughts on the 2015-16 Lightning schedule
Every summer in this space, I attempt to break down the Lightning’s upcoming schedule. How tough is the first month, a time when teams can establish a good position in the standings? How many back-to-backs for the Bolts? And how many times do they play a team on the second half of a back-to-back? How long are the road trips, both in terms of games and duration? Here are some answers to those questions.
A Tough Start: Last season, the Lightning played eight of their first 13 games at home. They cashed in, going 9-3-1, and earning a spot in the top half of the Atlantic Division standings. A spot they held throughout the rest of the regular season. This season’s opening stretch, at least in terms of a home/road breakdown, is tougher than last year’s.
The Lightning will be on the road for 11 of their first 16 regular season games. Those games will take place in a 31-day span. This is the second-busiest road stretch of the entire season (the other takes place from February 20 until March 19, when the team plays 11 of 15 games on the road). I’ve often written that two points early in the season often are more significant than two points late. That’s because as the season progresses, it becomes very difficult for teams outside the playoff bubble to force their way in. Ottawa was an exception last year, but it took a 21-3-3 finish for the Sens to eke in just past the Boston Bruins. Last season’s fast start for the Lightning was a crucial component in their successful regular season. If they want a similar start in 2015-16, they’ll need to make some noise on the road early on.