NHL postpones Bruins-Lightning Game 4
By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com
Friday’s Game 4 showdown between the Bruins and Lightning will not go on as scheduled, as the NHL has indeed postponed Stanley Cup Playoff action through Friday night.
“After much discussion, NHL players believe that the best course of action would be to take a step back and not play tonight’s and tomorrow’s games as scheduled,” the NHL and NHLPA confirmed in a statement. “The NHL supports the players’ decision and will reschedule those four games beginning Saturday and adjust the remainder of the second-round schedule accordingly.”
The decision to postpone play came with a player-led movement on Thursday, and after the Bruins and Lightning and then Stars and Avalanche played as scheduled while the majority of the sports world pressed pause following the Bucks’ decision to protest their Game 5 against the Magic in the Orlando bubble.
“You know, these days need to be used in the right manner,” B’s captain Zdeno Chara said in a Thursday press conference with reps from the other East playoff teams. “Obviously, we need to step back, reflect a little bit, just to take a little moment to realize what’s going on. Obviously, there is a problem in the States and there is obviously the right reason to kind of why all the major sports are doing what they’re doing right now, to kind of make sure that we all realize that there needs to be change. Obviously, it starts with the conversations and acts, that are going to be very important to follow.”
It’ll be interesting to see how the NHL adjusts the B’s-Lightning schedule, which was already condensed to a potential seven games in 11 days stretch, and with another potential back-to-back on table should this series go seven games. There was initially talk of moving everything up a day, but that would be a potential disaster for the Bruins, with Game 5 set for Sunday, meaning that the Bruins would potentially play four games in five days should the NHL move ahead with such a mindset.
As the NHL noted, however, they will adjust the remainder of the second-round schedule, which could potentially move the Bruins out of such a physically-taxing close to their series with the Lightning.
The Bruins are currently down two games to one in their series, and are looking to rebound from a 7-1 beatdown from Nikita Kucherov and the Bolts, which was the team’s worst playoff loss in 28 years.
Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter: @_TyAnderson.
