Time to stop the NHL season for at least a few weeks and shrink the schedule | On the Fly
The league's hope of a 56-game season looks out of the question, and there's no end in sight to the run of COVID-19 stoppages.
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What a miserable week this turned out to be. Any momentum the Flyers might have gained from Sunday’s comeback win over the Capitals — and the glorious return of Sean Couturier — was doused by postponements, and eventually quarantine.
You do you, 2021.
The coronavirus keeps throwing haymakers at the NHL schedule, but the league continues to move on defiantly. Eight of the 31 teams have at least one player on the COVID-19 protocol list, including three teams in the West Division and four teams in the East, including the Flyers’ captain.
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— Ed Barkowitz (flyers@inquirer.com)
That 56-game season looks impossible
Was looking at the remaining schedules for the Flyers and the three teams they’ve had postponed games with and came to the conclusion that it’s going to be nearly impossible for the NHL to get 56 games in for each team and finish the regular season by May 11.
There are no dates in the current schedules for the Flyers and Capitals to make up the game they lost on Tuesday without requiring one — or both — to play three games in three nights. That’s just asking for injuries.
There is a spot for the Flyers and Devils to make up one of the two games they lost — on Monday, Feb. 22 — the day after the Flyers play the Bruins across the country in Lake Tahoe.
Speaking of the Feb. 21 game in Tahoe, it sounded like a great idea at the time, but things have disintegrated for the Flyers since general manager Chuck Fletcher endorsed it two weeks ago as a nice way “to break up the routine.”
The NHL told ESPN on Wednesday night that it was lining up teams to stand by in case the Flyers (or Boston, Vegas or Colorado) needed to be replaced for the two games in Tahoe on Feb. 20 and 21.
The league on Wednesday postponed Sunday’s Flyers-at-Rangers game. A few hours earlier, the Rangers announced that the state of New York will allow up to 2,000 fans for home games starting Feb. 26. Talk about mixed messages.
And did you see what happened in Vegas the other night?
Golden Knights forward Tomas Nosek was taken out of the game in the second period after it was discovered he had tested positive. Not only did the game continue, but also, Vegas’ rematch against Anaheim was still on tonight’s schedule as of this morning.
What in the name of Tony Fauci is going on here?
“Nosek was immediately isolated from his teammates and close contact tracing was begun,” the league said in a release. Nosek played 13 shifts and more than 9 minutes. Just a hunch that he made plenty of close contact with teammates and opponents.
As inconvenient — and in many cases unfair — as it will be, the NHL should pause the season until at least March.
Teams had played an average of about 12 games entering Thursday night. Stop the season and try to get each to 35 games by the end of April. It’s about three games per week with some flexibility built in.
Count on using points percentage to determine postseason spots for those that can’t get to 35. But they must get to at least 30.
Formulate two playoff bubbles. Pull the plug on the Ottawa Senators’ season (they’re 2-11-1) and use that city as one of the bubbles.
Apologize to those in Canada and ask if they’ll let us use another city from a North Division team that doesn’t make the playoffs. Vancouver, maybe?
Play five-game series up until the Stanley Cup Final, and be finished in early June as usual.
Of course, it’s not that simple. But this is:
Justin Braun and Claude Giroux have young children. Guess what the first thing they thought of when they found out they were being placed on the COVID-19 protocol list. It wasn’t “how are we going to stop Alexander Ovechkin’s line?” I assure you. From someone who had the virus in early January, an immediate fear is the danger of transmitting it to loved ones.
The Devils, who had 19 players on the protocol list before two came off Wednesday, haven’t played since Jan. 31. They beat Buffalo that night, which couldn’t be more insignificant. The Sabres also haven’t played since Jan. 31 as they try to work through a series of positive tests that included 61-year-old coach Ralph Krueger.
Things to know
Phantoms update
Lehigh Valley, the Flyers’ AHL affiliate, played its second game of the season Wednesday night. The Phantoms faced the Binghamton Devils at the practice rink adjacent to the Prudential Center in Newark N.J. The Phantoms held the lead for most of the game, but lost in overtime, 2-1.
Here are a few observations:
Goaltender Zane McIntyre was hung out to dry on the two goals he allowed, but bailed the Phantoms out with a number of five-star saves.
Egor Zamula wasn’t flawless (couple of D-zone turnovers), but his skill is obvious. As Phantoms broadcaster Bob Rotruck pointed out, he skates faster backward than some guys do forward.
Max Willman set up a number of scoring chances with some nifty passes.
David Kase, who spent the fall playing in his native Czech Republic, scored a shorthanded goal and was the Phantoms’ best skater. “I would have to say, out of all the guys who played over in Europe, he’s probably the best guy,” Phantoms head coach Scott Gordon said. “We’re playing him at center. I think that’s giving him a little more room to use his speed to get more opportunities.”
Flyers’ next five (fingers crossed)
Thursday, Feb. 18: N.Y. RANGERS, 7 p.m. (NBCSP)
Sunday, Feb. 21: vs. Boston/at Lake Tahoe, 3 p.m. (NBC)
Wednesday, Feb. 24: N.Y. RANGERS, 7 p.m. (NBCSP)
Saturday, Feb. 27: at Buffalo, 1 p.m. (NBCSP)
Sunday, Feb. 28: at Buffalo, 3 p.m. (NBCSP)
From the mailbag
Which will come first? Ron Hextall returning the Penguins to the Stanley Cup or Chuck Fletcher firing?
It hurts that the Pens hired Hexy to be the GM there. The success of this team thus far has been based on Hexy’s moves as GM. I hope that Fletcher is equal to the task but we shall see.
***
I like Hexy‚ outside of Hakstol who turned out to be a stiff.
People don’t like the truth. They like to hear what they want to hear. Hexy did tell one lie, that Pittsburgh is the greatest sports town in North America. Lol. Great hockey town and great football town, nothing else. Some good pizza, too. My ex lives there. Hence the word “ex,” lol.
Send questions or observations via Twitter to beat writers Ed Barkowitz (@EdBarkowitz) or Sam Carchidi (@BroadStBull).