Professional sports travel in North America can be arduous what with all the time zones and long distances between destinations.

But sometimes the road is where a team discovers itself, its character. Within the confines of airliners, buses, hotel rooms and shared meals can come a newfound camaraderie.  Constant interaction can act as an incubator, speeding the development of relationships, on and off the field. Of course, this all assumes the chemistry elements are correct in the first place.

The Reign just returned home after playing four consecutive road matches. They have seven more points than when they last played at Memorial.

The Sounders, meanwhile, are outbound to a pair of imposing away matches at Toronto and Portland. The Reds have apparently sorted things out and are coming off a 3-0 win over Philly. The Timbers have won three straight, scoring six goals in their last two home wins.

Seattle heard their share of boos while walking off from the scoreless stalemate with 10-man Columbus. Not the ideal sendoff, for sure. This coming week will have a lot to say whether this side is better than its 1-4-2 record indicates or deserving of its cool, damp conditions in the MLS West basement.

As someone who remembers too many torturous starts of seasons past, I want to believe this will be like the ’82 Sounders. The franchise was in upheaval and the record 4-9 when they left town for 11 days and four games.  They won three of them and an anemic attack was transformed, gushing forth 12 goals. That team went on to win the division and reach the NASL final.

Suffice to say, good things can happen out there on the road.

Here’s a recount of consecutive away matches that netted seven points or more. (Note: yes, Schmetzer’s first two A-League sides were banished from town for more than a month at a time) Is it too much to ask for six from the Sounders?

15 Points

Sounders 2002 (WWWWLW)

11 Points

Sounders 2003 (DWLDWW)

9 points

Sounders 1982 (WLWW)

Sounders 1998 (WWWL)

Sounders 2002 (LWWW)

Reign 2014 (WWW)

7 Points

Sounders 1980 (DWW)

Sounders 1994 (WWLD)

Sounders 1996 (LWDW)

Sounders 1997 (LWDW)

Sounders 1998 (WWLD)

Sounders 1999 (WWD)

Sounders 2007 (WWD)

Sounders 2008 (WWLD)

Sounders 2013 (WDW)

Sounders 2014 (DWW)

Reign 2018 (WLDW)