Quick Hits: March 13, 2020
1) On the new edition of Jason Myrtetus's "Flyers Daily" show on the Flyers Broadcast Network, Jason and I discussed the NHL's decision to "pause" the 2019-20 season due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. We looked at some possible scenarios -- depending on how long the stoppage goes -- for how the rest of the regular season and playoffs might be handled. Right now, everything is speculatory and fluid. We're in unchartered territory, and things are changing rapidly.
To download the podcast, click here.
2) If you look at the NHL's tiebreaking procedures, the first tie-breaker is points percentage. That is only an in-season tiebreaker, as all teams will eventually play 82 games. However, if the regular season were to be declared over and the playoffs were to start immediately after the resumption of play -- again, this would driven by the length of the season interruption -- there is already a mechanism in place to deal with unequal games played. It would have be agreed upon that points percentage, rather than points alone, is the primary determinant.
If that were the case, however, the Columbus Blue Jackets (81 points in 70 games) would be knocked out of the playoffs because the New York Islanders (80 points in 68 games) hold a higher points percentage.
In the American Hockey League, there is an unbalanced schedule in the Western Conference. Pacific Division teams play 68 games while Central Division teams (and all Eastern Conference teams) play 76. Thus, points percentage is actually the AHL's primary determinant of the standings both in-season and at the end of the season. That is why you'll sometimes see a team with more points listed in the standings behind a team with fewer points.
Just a few days ago, even as there were discussions of NHL games potentially played in empty arenas, I would not have thought that suspension of the league's season was about to happen. The NBA's decision to suspend their season in light of one player (and, later, a second) testing positive for the virus was the turning point. Once that decision came down, the NHL's decision became inevitable.
In addition to the NHL putting its season on "pause", so have the AHL, the ECHL, OHL, QMJHL, WHL, USHL and Canadian junior A leagues. The BCHL used the terminology of "canceled" until further notice. The NCAA, which originally planned to play conference tournaments and the Frozen Four in empty arenas, has canceled the playoffs entirely.
3) Last night, I actually had a dream that the postponed Flyers-Lightning game was taking place. The Flyers were trailing, 1-0, in the first period when there was a collision near the Tampa net. Although goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy was seeming unhurt, Tama coach Jon Cooper removed him from the game as a precaution. Over the next 90 seconds or so, the Flyers greeted Curtis McElhinney with three goals on as many shots by Kevin Hayes, Scott Laughton and Tyler Pitlick. I woke up shortly thereafter, so I have no idea how the game turned out.
4) I plan to continue writing, both on the Flyers' official website and here on HockeyBuzz for the duration of the NHL's absence. Topics will be determined as we go along, in addition to covering any relevant news that arises.