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The NHL conducted Phase 3 (formal training camp) of its Return to Play on Saturday with no positive test results for COVID-19 among the 4,256 tests administered to more than 800 players during the period from July 18-25,” the league said in a statement. |
Field Yates
@FieldYates
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1h
The NHL announces that of the 4,256 COVID tests administered to players from July 18th-25th, there were zero positive tests. Good news for a league preparing to restart game play.
Friday - NHL season is slated to open in what is shaping up to be a March Madness like feel to it.
Games currently scheduled for
Saturday:
12:00 PM ET (NYR @ CAR)
03:00 PM ET (CHI @ EDM)
04:00 PM ET (FLA @ NYI)
08:00 PM ET (MTL @ PIT)
10:30 PM ET (WIN @ CAL)
Sunday:
02:00 PM ET (ARI @ NSH)
03:00 PM ET (PHI @ BOS)
06:30 PM ET (STL @ COL)
08:00 PM ET (CBJ @ TOR)
10:30 PM ET (MIN @ VAN)
@ is relative, only two sites, Edmonton and Toronto. East is in Toronto and West is in Edmonton.
Some exhibition games start tomorrow.
They're in a bubble essentially. Like the NBA.
The non bubble sports will suffer and it's only feasible for the NHL and NBA to be in essential bubbles is because it's just playoffs so a 3-4 week tournament.
a 60 game MLB season or a 16 game NFL season I doubt would be feasible in a bubble so it's much harder to control the situations IMO.
I don't believe they'll get to select which side to defend first, it'll be set like any home arena, but they would be getting the last line change for the whole game (I believe)
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...I would assume the "home" team gets to choose what net to defend and make shift changes easier for two of the three periods?
I don't believe they'll get to select which side to defend first, it'll be set like any home arena, but they would be getting the last line change for the whole game (I believe)
I know they get last change for the whole game like a home team does, and I just assumed they'd be in the home team locker room and bench and play that way, but it's a good question.
Money puck day 1
it's just game 1, but no way MTL should be favored even 1 game. MTL is lucky to even be included. They were closer to last I think than the playoffs.
That site has them as favorites for the series - 60% to advance.
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it's just game 1, but no way MTL should be favored even 1 game. MTL is lucky to even be included. They were closer to last I think than the playoffs.
That site has them as favorites for the series - 60% to advance.
Carey Price? Matt Murray/Tristan Jarry? Goalie is the only spot MTL potentially has an edge. Maybe 3rd line. Neither team has stellar D.
Sucker bet IMO, I'd easily take the Pens.
@TSNRyanRishaug
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13m
Early report from a contact inside the bubble is that testing logistics on day one were quite smooth. 5-10 minutes to get it done, teams were all spaced out evenly, and it went well. People inside the bubble are taking care to respect the rules and stay distanced. Solid start
Though Brendan Gallagher is one of the more underrated players in the league. Excels at nothing, but max effort and it pays off. And Phillip Danault is a underrated defensive center, but they're 2nd/3rd line on a cup winner not first line. Tomas Tatar can be a nice complementary piece to a creator - he'd put up 100 points playing next to Crosby, but neither Danault or Gallagher are really who I mean.
@EricEngels
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3h
Zach Aston-Reese says he's not sure who's on Montreal's first line.
Yeah I noticed that MTL was favored in their series vs Pitt a month ago.... odd, maybe its a combo of great goalie and how bad Pitt looked last postseason, i dont know... but i agree, strange. They also had Vegas as a pretty big favorite to win it all... and Philly as the favorite in the East... i guess easier early round brackets for them, no other explanation to have PHL over Boston.
But I just want them to win, even though they shouldn't be here and have very little chance.
I think the Rangers have a decent shot, they can play with anyone, and have a goalie who looks like he might be able to carry them. If their D holds up, they have as good a chance as anyone outside of the top tier.
And look what happened to TBL last year. In a tournament as unique as this, it's like a complete reset IMO, no home ice advantage, no favorite, etc. I would not be surprised with a lot of upsets. I just don't know what to expect.
I think the Rangers are trending in the right direction, but the lack of D and bottom six talent will do them in at some point.
I expect some sloppy qualifying/first round games.
PHI vs PIT at 4 on NBCSN/NHLN
and
MTL vs TOR at 8 on NHLN
and
CAL vs EDM at 10:30 on NHLN
somehow both latter games say NHLN but they'll probably overlap a little.
NYR vs NYI tomorrow at 8 on NBCSN
Trotz said something that I think is 100% true which is that the team that wins will have to develop some kind of an identity right away despite the time off. That also plays to his strengths since he did that day 1 with the Isles so they may be as good of a candidate to go on a run as anyone.
More than a normal year all bets are off and I don't think anyone can be considered a favorite, no less the Isles, but there's enough to hope on. They legitimately go 8 defenseman deep and have 4 strong centers - both for the first time since Trotz came to town. And if they are flat and get knocked out right away, they've got the very unexpected 12.5% chance in the lotto thanks to the seemingly unlikely protections Lou put on the pick they dealt for JGP.
I think the Rangers are trending in the right direction, but the lack of D and bottom six talent will do them in at some point.
I expect some sloppy qualifying/first round games.
I've even seen sites like MoneyPuck favoring Montreal over Pittsburgh. Needless to say, I'm confused.
Habs were 0 for 6 and allowed 2 SHGs.
And they didn't even really have many scoring chances.
just absolutely brutal.
I guess Kovy would have helped a little, he was their best PP guy before they traded him, but really they just don't have great skill guys.