This is honestly why I think 14 in the west is fair. Not only do you have way more travel time in the west, but historically speaking, the west is a tougher conference.
I would imagine that any eastern conference team that heads out on a road trip west (hello NYR 9-game road trip) is just destined to fail with the traveling. If you look at their record on the roadtrip (3-6), all three wins came after extended rest days or very limited travel distance. I don't know what the W-L record of east teams away in the west, but it doesn't seem like it would be greater than equal? So right there you've already created a discrepancy.
Also think the inverse applies, western teams are so accustomed to difficult, grueling schedules, that when they roll into Ontario/NY/eastern seaboard, it's a cakewalk.
On-ice though, east teams tend to play more run and gun, relying on creating odd-man rushes and transition opportunities. Western play is more physical and much more chippy. Not as much polish, but a whole heck of a lot of grit. When you have teams that play the body, and are more defence-centric, I think you just drain the compete out of the other team by constantly pounding them.
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