New year, new divisions, new rules: How the NHL is adapting to COVID-19
As the NHL prepares for its first regular season of the COVID-19 pandemic, the league’s players will have to quickly become accustomed to a new normal of sorts in 2021.
As the NHL prepares for its first regular season of the COVID-19 pandemic, the league’s players will have to quickly become accustomed to a new normal of sorts in 2021.
After months of play inside the NHL’s bubbles in Edmonton and Toronto, the Stanley Cup Final finally has its two representatives from the Eastern and Western Conferences: the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Dallas Stars.
It only took three Game 7’s to get to this point, but the NHL’s postseason has finally reached the Conference Finals, and four teams are set to vie for a spot in the Stanley Cup Final.
While the NHL’s “Day with the Cup” tradition was put on hold until the league’s bubble-based postseason is finished, sports card collectors decided to make their own fun to celebrate their love of hockey.
Back in July, 24 teams entered the NHL’s bubbles in Edmonton and Toronto. A few weeks later, 16 remained, and the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs officially began. And then, there were eight.
After Qualifying Round series and round-robin play, the first round of the 2020 NHL playoffs is finally underway.