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The Toronto Maple Leafs were slated to take on the Nashville Predators at Scotiabank Arena in a key contest for both clubs playoff aspirations, but that game and the rest of the NHL regular season is now limbo after the league announced they will postpone games beginning on Thursday due to the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic.
“The NHL has been attempting to follow the mandates of health experts and local authorities, while preparing for any possible developments without taking premature or unnecessary measures. However, following last night’s news that an NBA player has tested positive for coronavirus – and given that our leagues share so many facilities and locker rooms and it now seems likely that some member of the NHL community would test positive at some point – it is no longer appropriate to try to continue to play games at this time.” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a press release.on Thursday.
We will continue to monitor all the appropriate medical advice, and we will encourage our players and other members of the NHL community to take all reasonable precautions – including by self-quarantine, where appropriate. Our goal is to resume play as soon as it is appropriate and prudent, so that we will be able to complete the season and award the Stanley Cup..”
The league shutdown puts the remainder of the regular season and the Stanley Cup Playoffs in question. Various reports indicate that clubs have been told to inquire about building availability for the month of July, and that potential plans include a truncated regular season of 74 games and an abbreviated opening round of the postseason, but those scenarios are based on a hiatus of two or three weeks in length.
“The health and safety of our fans, players, staff and media always remains at the forefront of our decision-making as a hockey club and League, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are in full support of the decision reached today by the NHL, its member clubs and players." Leafs Team President Brendan Shanhan said in a press release. "We have many questions about what’s to come in the future. We will continue to monitor this situation and will remain in contact with Toronto Public Health, Public Health Agency of Canada and the National Hockey League. We will provide relevant team updates as they become available.”
If conditions do not allow the league to play games into April, at a certain point there will be a cutoff date where resuming the season or starting the playoffs will not be feasible. For each club, team functions like practices and meetings will not occur and it is likely that players will be tested for the virus while the league is suspended.
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