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Nov. 2 hypothetical schedule: Who might start strong

Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup Victory Parade

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 14: Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings addresses the fans during the rally in Staples Center after the Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup Victory Parade on June 14, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

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Gary Bettman shared his hopes of preserving an 82-game season on Tuesday, revealing that such a thing could happen if it all began on Nov. 2.

While it’s important to note that a final schedule would likely present some tweaks to the current plans, PHT probed existing ones to see which teams might get off to great (or rough) starts.

Let’s start off with a few teams who could enjoy early gains

Anaheim Ducks

The immediate start isn’t too promising with back-to-back road games against playoff teams (Philadelphia, then Ottawa). Still, the streaky Ducks could take advantage of a six-game homestand before the pendulum swings the other way.

Detroit Red Wings

What would have been a four-game road trip is whittled down to just one away game (and the start of a home-and-home series) with the Edmonton Oilers. Including hosting the Oilers, the Red Wings will then enjoy a five-game home stand and seven of eight games at Joe Louis Arena.

(Not a bad way to start the post-Lidstrom era.)

Los Angeles Kings

The defending champs can raise the Stanley Cup banner during a three-game home opening run while their overall start includes seven out of ten games at the Staples Center. It gets a little rocky to end the month, but maybe their “hangover” will be gone by then.

Philadelphia Flyers

After alternating home and road games, the Flyers play five of six in Philly. Only one of those teams (Ottawa) made the playoffs last season, although Minnesota did make big off-season changes. They do finish the month with the first three games of a five-game road trip, so they must seize an early opportunity to collect wins.

Washington Capitals

They begin the season with four of their first five games at home, play one more road game and then get three straight contests at the Phone Booth. That’s a friendly start for first-time head coach Adam Oates.