Washington Capitals hockey is on its way back.
National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman announced yesterday the plans of the NHL’s “Return to Play”. The regular season is officially over so congratulations to the Washington Capitals on winning their fifth straight Metropolitan Division title.
The plan is for 24 teams, 12 per conference to migrate to one of the two hub cities still to be determined to compete for the Stanley Cup. Bettman also outlined the plan for players to begin working out in their own team facilities as places begin to reopen up, as well as formal training camp taking place sometime in July.
Keep in mind many of these players haven’t set foot on a sheet of ice since the season was paused on March 12 over concerns of the novel coronavirus. Per a press release from the NHL, the league played 85 percent of its games of the regular season that began in early October.
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The good thing about this plan is that it allows those players on the Caps who are a bit rusty, more time to get out on the ice and workout to get in shape for the playoff run that’s ahead.
The Caps finished ranked third in the Eastern Conference which means while the qualifying round of the playoffs will be played for other teams, the Caps will be involved in three round robin games to determine their final seeding. This will help get the guys in game shape by the time the first round of the playoffs is set to begin.
The first two rounds are still to be determined as far as length of the rounds go. Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Final will be a best of seven series. The Caps are exempt from the qualifying round which will be a best of five series for the remaining eight teams not competing in the round robin.
The biggest pro in the 24 team playoff format is the simple fact that hockey will be played. Another pro is that it gives many veterans on the team another chance at competing for the Cup. Many tasted the thrill of victory from two years ago and would love that same feeling again.
For those who weren’t a part of that magical 2018, they might get a taste of it themselves after hearing numerous stories about it from the locker room.
While we don’t know a date for any of this yet, it’s an encouraging sign that the league is ready to move forward.
For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website or the website for your state’s Department of Health.