Home-ice advantage doesn't always make the difference in hockey, but a truly intimidating atmosphere can have a major impact, especially come playoff time.

Here are the three most difficult arenas to play in around the NHL:

Bridgestone Arena

The Nashville Predators' home rink is without a doubt the toughest barn in the league for opposing clubs to visit.

A raucous, fun-loving crowd fills the building for every home game, and whether they're chanting "it's all your fault" at visiting goaltenders at a deafening volume or throwing catfish on the ice, the Music City faithful do everything they can to make it an unpleasant experience for the other team.

If there was any doubt about Bridgestone Arena's status, it was named the toughest building to play in by 61 of the NHL's best players in a recent poll.

Bell MTS Place

Anyone who watched the Winnipeg Jets' postseason run last spring will agree that their home facility belongs on this list.

The scene at Bell MTS Place during the Jets' drive to the Western Conference Final was consistently a sight to behold, with the "White Out" painting the capacity crowd in Winnipeg's colors and the decibel level cranked up to extreme proportions.

Jets fans are among the most passionate in the NHL. The fact that Winnipeg is now also among the league's most competitive clubs gives its fans even more incentive to create an intimidating setting, even during the regular season.

Amalie Arena

Much like the other two rinks listed here, the Tampa Bay Lightning's abode is energized by a perennially successful team, and that's helped make it one of the toughest destinations in the league.

These days, it's rare to watch a game at Amalie Arena and not witness an electric atmosphere, both literally and figuratively. After all, the building uses actual Tesla coils to fire up the fans, and to say it works would be an understatement.

Given the talent it boasts on the ice, it's no surprise Tampa Bay has one of the best home records in the NHL, nor is it a shock the Lightning are among the leaders in home attendance. That boisterous crowd and some dynamic in-game effects make the building one of the league's most imposing.

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Any team can beat any opponent on any given night because of the parity in today's NHL. The league is wide open, but sometimes a tough schedule can trip up a squad.

Lengthy road trips are one of the main disadvantages for a team over the course of a season. Coaches don't have as much control over matchups while trying to manage player fatigue, and multiple long flights across the continent take a toll.

With the season upon us, here are three of the most difficult stretches teams will face away from home in 2018-19.

Washington Captials: Feb. 12th-21st

Opponents: Blue Jackets, Sharks, Ducks, Kings, Maple Leafs, Sabres
Back-to-Backs: 1

The reigning Stanley Cup champs should win a healthy amount of games again this season, but the Capitals will be in tough during a grueling five-game stretch in mid-February.

The 10-day period kicks off in Columbus one night after Washington hosts the Kings, with the Caps traveling west for the always daunting California gauntlet. After taking on the Sharks, the Capitals play the Ducks and Kings on back-to-back nights, then head east to face the loaded Maple Leafs and a Sabres team that could surprise this season.

Vancouver Canucks: Oct. 6th-18th

Opponents: Flames, Hurricanes, Lightning, Panthers, Penguins, Jets
Back-to-Backs: 0

No one's expecting much from the rebuilding Canucks in 2018-19, and a demanding six-game road trip during the first month of the season could derail things early on. Vancouver doesn't have to deal with a back-to-back over that stretch, but the team will take on six top-tier opponents.

After dueling the Flames, the Canucks have a long flight to the east coast, where the Hurricanes will be waiting on a full day of rest. The star-studded Lightning and up-and-coming Panthers each present significant tests before mismatches against the Penguins and Jets, two Stanley Cup contenders.

Boston Bruins: Feb 15th-23rd

Opponents: Ducks, Kings, Sharks, Golden Knights, Blues
Back-to-Backs: 1

The Bruins have the talent to match up well against any opponent, but stiff competition comes their way in five consecutive late-February road games.

Four of those five opponents qualified for the playoffs in 2017-18, and the Blues, a team that only missed the postseason by a single point, added several significant pieces over the offseason. Boston will take on the Ducks and Kings on consecutive nights to start off this daunting road trip, then play three games in six nights against three of the Western Conference's top teams.

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