NEIL'S NUGGETS - DECEMBER 8, 2025
First game at home after a road trip, is it challenging to win, or is that a myth? Let's find out.
Neil Smith
Author
published
It has long been said that the first home game after a road trip is a challenging one for NHL teams. Using four or more games as the definition of a road trip for this exercise, we went through each team's four-game or more road trips so far this season to see if that first game back home was a win or a loss. Here are some interesting takeaways from this exercise:
Three teams have not had a 4-game or more road trip this season. Pittsburgh, Colorado, and Vegas.
Eastern Conference teams won only 6 of 17 games when returning home after a 4-game or more extended road trip.
Western Conference teams won 10 of 21 when returning home after a 4-game or more road trip.
Overall, NHL teams are 17-22 in their first home game after a 4-game or more road trip.
Mathematically, teams have a 43% chance to win their first home game after a 4-game or more road trip.
Neil Smith
Author
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