Advertisement

Top 10 all-Canadian NHL games in 2016-17

Dion Phaneuf of the Ottawa Senators battles Leo Komarov of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. (Getty)
Dion Phaneuf of the Ottawa Senators battles Leo Komarov of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. (Getty)

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before, but none of Canada’s seven NHL teams made the playoffs last season. How will they fare in 2016-17? These 10 games could be very telling:

1. October 12: Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators

The 2016-17 NHL season opener is an all-Ontario affair between the kid-powered Leafs and Erik Karlsson’s Senators. It’s the only meeting for the provincial rivals in the 2016 portion of the NHL schedule; they play three times in 2017, starting on Jan. 24.

2. October 12: Calgary Flames at Edmonton Oilers

The opening night of the NHL season also features the first ‘Battle of Alberta’ at Rogers Place, the Oilers’ fancy new arena. Prediction: Connor McDavid scores the first goal. And the second. And the third…

3. October 23: Edmonton Oilers at Winnipeg Jets

The Heritage Classic between the Jets and Oilers -- the NHL’s first of four outdoor games in 2016-17 -- is less than two weeks away. If it seems early, that’s because it is: it’s only the fifth game of the season for the Jets and the sixth for the Oilers. The Leafs also play an outdoor game this season, hosting the Detroit Red Wings in the Centennial Classic on Jan. 1.

4. October 29: Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens

The NHL’s original rivals, the Leafs and the Habs, face off for the first time in 2016-17 on a Saturday night, natch. Who you got, Auston Matthews or Carey Price?

The Canucks' longest road trip of the season begins in Montreal on Nov. 2. (AP)
The Canucks' longest road trip of the season begins in Montreal on Nov. 2. (AP)

5. November 2: Vancouver Canucks at Montreal Canadiens

The Canucks kick off their longest road trip of the season -- a six-game swing through the Eastern Conference -- with a visit to Montreal, followed by games against Ottawa and Toronto. For the Canucks, the road trip represents a reality check on their season. The club’s braintrust insists they’re a playoff contender, while outside observers are predicting doom and gloom. We should have a better idea by the time the Canucks get to Montreal.

6. December 3: Toronto Maple Leafs at Vancouver Canucks

On paper, these look like Canada’s two worst NHL teams. This game concludes the Leafs’ lone road swing through western Canada, and might indicate who has the inside track on the No. 1 overall draft pick next summer.

7. December 10: Winnipeg Jets at Calgary Flames

One of these teams could make the playoffs, but it’s doubtful they’ll both qualify for the postseason in the highly competitive Western Conference. This game occurs near the midpoint of the season and might reveal who has the better chance of playing in the spring.

8. January 11: Montreal Canadiens at Winnipeg Jets

The NHL regular season hits the halfway point with a showdown between playoff hopefuls Montreal and Winnipeg. The Habs have a better shot in the East than the Jets do in the West.

9. March 25: Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens

The Sens travel to Montreal to begin a season-long five-game road trip that could determine whether they make the playoffs or not. Ottawa will have only four games left when the trip is over.

10. April 9: Vancouver Canucks at Edmonton Oilers

The Canucks and Oilers clash in Game No. 1230, the NHL’s last regular season contest on the 2016-17 schedule. Will it impact the playoff race – or the draft lottery?

MORE NHL COVERAGE ON YAHOO SPORTS: