It's not easy making a fair schedule for all 32 teams, and it appears that the Maple Leafs have received a shorter stick than most, and fans are not happy at all. While the NHL does re-tool its schedule every year in an attempt to find a better balance, sometimes certain <a href='https://www.mapleleafsdaily.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/the-nhl-continues-to-hammer-the-toronto-maple-leafs-with-horrible-scheduling#:~:text=The%20Toronto%20Maple%20Leafs%20pace,faced%20off%20again%20last%20night.' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>teams wind up with especially brutal stretches</a>. Right now, the <a href='https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Toronto Maple Leafs</a> are going through one of those rough patches. Hockey is played on 28 nights in December, and the Maple Leafs are scheduled to play on 15 of those nights. Among those are four separate three-game streaks within a span of four nights; that makes their tail-end quite packed. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/DeuceDoucette/status/1873243906504310845'> </a></blockquote></div> Teams generally struggle in the second half of back-to-back games, and that's no different for the Leafs. So far this month, their record in the first half of back-to-backs is 2-2-0, and their record in the second half sinks to 1-3-0. Results like these do nothing but exemplify exactly how tough these condensed schedules are. Some fans have been grumbling about what appears to be preferential treatment by Gary Bettman and the NHL in scheduling back-to-backs against the Leafs for teams like Washington. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/TaylorL07/status/1873401201569767458'> </a></blockquote></div> <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/stewonstroke/status/1873327945307275370'> </a></blockquote></div> <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/thekylefree/status/1873394159878537498'> </a></blockquote></div> In January, the Leafs will get a bit of a respite with only one back-to-back but will still play 13 games on the schedule. The team will catch a break in playing eight of those on home ice, finally getting some relief after a very demanding stretch of the season. While the NHL tries to build a fair schedule, there can't be a perfect balance because of things like travel distances and venue availability. The league, however, continues to improve its method of approach in an attempt to make on-ice competition as equitable as possible. And with technology changes, it would appear that future schedules will get much closer to addressing these concerns and offering a level playing field for all teams.