NHL releases updated schedule for 98 postponed games
The Daily Goal Horn
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The NHL on Thursday unveiled new dates for 98 games that had been postponed, all but three of which will be played during a 16-day window in February originally reserved for the Olympics.
In addition, the league changed the dates of 23 other games to accommodate the new rescheduled dates.
The league said the season will be completed by its original final date of April 29.
“We are profoundly grateful to our fans for their support and understanding during a challenging time and to our clubs, the NHL Players’ Association and the players for their cooperation in a rescheduling of unprecedented logistical complexity,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in the news release.
The schedule calls for games every day from Feb. 7-22, including a 10-game slate on Feb. 17. The window was originally a pause to accommodate player participation in the Beijing Olympics. However, the league opted out due to COVID-19 concerns.
You can download the updated scheduled from the NHL here.
NHL to stop testing asymptomatic players
The NHL will stop testing asymptomatic players and staff following the All-Star break next month, ESPN and The Athletic reported Tuesday.
Testing still will be required for cross-border travel and, of course, for those who show symptoms of COVID-19.
The league and the NHLPA have reached an agreement on the new protocol, per the reports. However, the sides will meet again at the end of the month to formalize the change, provided cases are in decline, per the reports.
All-Star Weekend is Feb. 4-5 in Las Vegas. Players will be tested prior to arriving but not once they are there.
The league moved to daily testing in December but has softened some policies since, including reducing the isolation period from 10 days to five for players and staff who are asymptomatic.
–Field Level Media