As the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs wrapped up on Monday night, NHL fans began planning their second-round travel plans. And then Tuesday afternoon came with the announcement that the schedule had been delayed.

This quarter the Oilers play 21 games in 43 days, including nine sets of back-to-backs. That should be their toughest stretch of the season. Check their Edmonton Oilers Schedule.

1. They Have A Back-to-Back Week

After a 5-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 6, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid said the team needs “grit, snarl and tenacity.”

GM Ken Holland said Thursday that McDavid is feeling good on his return to the lineup following his quad injury and he’ll join the team on its road trip.

That’s good news because the Oilers are down 2-0 in their Western Conference semifinal against the Vegas Golden Knights.

The NHL moved Game 2 to Saturday afternoon at the last minute with no explanation to fans who had already made travel plans. The change seems to be part of the league’s ongoing attempt to alienate fans who pay their bills. From digital billboard snafus to this scheduling move, it feels like the NHL is making a point of ignoring its customer base. The fanbase is tired of it. It’s the reason that some season ticket holders are ready to call it quits.

2. They Have A Back-to-Back Night

The NHL’s decision to move Game 2 of the Oilers-Golden Knights series from Friday night to Saturday afternoon isn’t sitting well with many fans in Edmonton and beyond. The league made the move without explanation, leaving a lot of people who had already booked their travel and accommodations out of luck. Some claim they are out thousands of dollars in total because of the sudden change.

The rescheduling is a major inconvenience for a group of fans who would have been happy with a 6-2 win for the Oilers. Leon Draisaitl looked like he was in the zone for most of the evening, scoring two goals to help his team take control of the first period.

The Oilers did something special for the Pride community by taping their sticks with rainbow tape in warmup. They also auctioned off their sticks after the game, raising money for MacEwan University’s Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity. That is an event the Oilers should keep doing.

3. They Have A Back-to-Back Day

When the Oilers open this season on the road, it marks only the second time in the last decade they have opened on a non-home date. They’ve opened at home every year since Connor McDavid’s debut.

In the first round of the playoffs against Calgary, the Oilers jumped out to a 3-1 lead, but the Flames battled back and won Game 7 5-4 in overtime on a goal by Esa Tikkanen.

This season’s schedule isn’t as punishing on the travel front as last year’s. But the Oilers do have three sets of back-to-back games, play on a Monday night twice, a Tuesday night twice and a Wednesday night once. It will be interesting to see how Jay Woodcroft distributes ice time, given that the Oilers have 21 Saturday games this season. They need players who show grit, tenacity and desire. The team also needs more scoring. That starts with Klefbom, Larsson and Sekera. But that will only happen if the Oilers get their health back and remain healthy.

4. They Have A Back-to-Back Night

When you are a player or coach in the NHL, you know the importance of a good night’s sleep. That is why players are so adamant about following the mantras of sleep trainer Rich Rotenberg.

That’s why fans were so frustrated when the NHL released the schedule for the second round of the playoffs and messed up a lot of travel plans in the process. It was the latest in a long line of NHL blunders that are alienating the fanbase that pays the bills.

And the Oilers’ lack of foresight was doubly frustrating because it means that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will miss out on an extra night of rest. And that’s an especially hard blow for a couple of guys who are putting together the best seasons of their careers. You don’t get to be a player like that without being ultra competitive and very proud, and missing the playoffs three times in four years doesn’t mesh well with those character traits.