The National Hockey League will go straight into an expanded 24-team playoff format and all games will be held in two hub cities if action resumes this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Commissioner Gary Bettman said on Tuesday.
FILE PHOTO: Feb 12, 2020; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Gary Bettman commissioner of the National Hockey League with a smile prior to a game between the Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo
“Let me assure you that the reason we are doing this is because our fans are telling us in overwhelming numbers that they want us to complete the season if at all possible.” Bettman’s comments came a day after the NHL said in a memo to teams that it was targeting early June as the start date for Phase 2 of its Return to Play plan, which would include opening practice rinks for small, voluntary group workouts.
But Bettman said the regular season is now over and the NHL, when cleared, will instead get right into postseason action. First- and second-round playoff matchups could be either best-of-five or best-of-seven series, Bettman said.
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