When the NHL releases its schedule each year, fans don’t just look at rivalry games and road trips. They also pay close attention to “rest advantages” games against opponents playing on the second night of a back-to-back.
This year, one scheduling quirk has sparked plenty of debate after the Montreal Canadiens emerged as one of the league’s biggest beneficiaries.
Fans Spot Montreal Canadiens’ Schedule Advantage
NHL analyst Jason Gregor recently highlighted the number of games each team will play against opponents in the second half of a back-to-back during the 2026-27 season.
According to the numbers in the 2026-27 NHL schedule, the Canadiens lead the league with 19 such games, followed closely by the Anaheim Ducks with 18. At the other end of the list are the Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets, who will each face a tired opponent just five times all season.
The disparity quickly became a hot topic among fans.
Facing opponents on the second night of a back-to-back can provide a noticeable advantage, as teams are often dealing with fatigue and are more likely to rest their starting goaltender. Over the course of an 84-game season, those extra opportunities can make a meaningful difference in a tightly contested playoff race.
The reactions were immediate, with many questioning how such a large scheduling gap could exist.
NHL analyst Anthony G didn’t hold back, saying, “Once again, MTL gets away with [expletive] Toronto could never dream of. This is insane.”
Others took a more sarcastic approach. NHL insider Leaf Singh joked, “Habs fans are still going to complain somehow.”
Some even suggested the scheduling advantage could influence the playoff race. Sean Shields wrote, “If Montreal makes the playoffs by only a couple points, this will be the reason why. No way that schedule isn’t intentionally biased towards getting Montreal and another fast young team back in the playoffs. Did they not think people actually work these stats out for gambling.”
Meanwhile, DaveK questioned whether these scheduling imbalances occur every season, commenting, “It seems like some teams get an extra advantage year after year. That is a huge discrepancy from Montreal to Toronto and Winnipeg. The difference between Pittsburgh and Calgary in how many back to backs they play is huge. I would be curious if this balances out, year to year.”
While the schedule alone won’t determine where teams finish in the standings, it has certainly fueled debate among NHL fans.
No matter how the Canadiens perform, rival fanbases will use this schedule stat to discount Montreal’s success or clown on their failures.
But at the end of the day, Montreal’s coaching staff will happily take the 19 “tired” opponents and the major statistical edge that comes with them.
still pampering the leafs