Notes on some important stretches:
The Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames seem to be the 3 most physical teams in the division and have the best agitators. Looking at the schedules for the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs there are a few stretches this season where those teams are forced to go through the gauntlet of physical play and agitation. These stretches could end up having significant consequences for the standings. Here are some of those stretches:
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks just completed a 2 game series vs the Calgary Flames. Next up is a 3 game series vs the Montreal Canadiens. Then after that is a 3 game series vs the Ottawa Senators. Then they have one game vs the Winnipeg Jets before having a 2 game series vs the Montreal Canadiens. Then they play a 3 game series vs the Toronto Maple Leafs before jumping into a 4 game series vs the Calgary Flames.
Later in the season starting March 8th the Vancouver Canucks play a two game series vs the Montreal Canadiens. Then a single game vs the Edmonton Oilers followed up by a 2 game series vs the Ottawa Senators and then another 2 game series vs the Montreal Canadiens.
Later in the season starting April 22nd the Vancouver Canucks play a 4 game series vs the Ottawa Senators.
Edmonton Oilers
On January 31st the Oilers will begin a 2 game series vs the Ottawa Senators. Then they will play a single game vs the Calgary Flames followed up by a 2 game series vs the Ottawa Senators and finishing off with a single game vs the Montreal Canadiens.
Later in the season starting March 6th the Edmonton Oilers will play a single game vs the Calgary Flames. Then they will play a 3 game series vs the Ottawa Senators. Then they will play a single game vs the Vancouver Canucks before a 2 game series vs the Calgary Flames, Then they will play a 2 game series vs the Winnipeg Jets before playing a 3 game series vs the Montreal Canadiens.
Winnipeg Jets
On February 1st the Winnipeg Jets will begin a 4 game series vs the Calgary Flames. Then they will play a 2 game series vs the Ottawa Senators.
Later in the season starting April 8th the Winnipeg Jets will play a 2 game series vs the Montreal Canadiens followed by a 2 game series vs the Ottawa Senators.
In the final stretch of the season the Winnipeg Jets play a single game vs the Montreal Canadiens, a single game vs the Ottawa Senators, a single game vs the Calgary Flames and then a 2 game series vs the Ottawa Senators.
Toronto Maple Leafs
On February 10th the Toronto Maple Leafs will begin a 2 game series vs the Montreal Canadiens. Then a 3 game series vs the Ottawa Senators. Then a single game vs the Montreal Canadiens and then a 2 game series vs the Calgary Flames.
Later in the season starting March 14 the Toronto Maple Leafs will play a single game vs the Ottawa Senators then a 2 game series vs the Calgary Flames then a single game vs the Ottawa Senators.
Later in the season starting April 4th the Toronto Maple Leafs will play a 2 game series vs the Calgary Flames. Then they will play a single game vs the Montreal Canadiens, a single fame vs the Ottawa Senators and a single game vs the Calgary Flames.
In the final stretch of the season the Toronto Maple Leafs will play a single game vs the Montreal Canadiens, a single game vs the Ottawa Senators then a 2 game series vs the Montreal Canadiens.