If you were to ask the Calgary Flames they’d probably tell you that road trips are a blast — especially if you’re winning! Wrapping up their most recent road trip the Flames have tied an NHL record by 6-0 on the road…and along the way they’ve picked up some much-needed points in a very tight Northwest Division battle for the playoffs. But most teams don’t like long road trips — particularly around this time of year (the holidays) and/or when a nasty flu bug rips through the entire roster like a hurricane. Just ask the Vancouver Canucks.

The Canucks’ eight-games-in-eight-cities travelling road show ended in Edmonton with a shootout loss to the Oilers on Dec. 15th.

“That was one of the toughest stretches I’ve ever been associated with,” said coach Alain Vigneault. “The tank is empty.”

Now that the team is back at home and their starting goalie is back in net (that would be Roberto Luongo), the Canucks are riding a two-game win streak. Let’s hope that doesn’t snap tonight when they make one last flight over to Phoenix to play the Coyotes before the Christmas break.

The Canucks are 20/1 odds to win the Stanley Cup.