Well, I guess we all knew this was coming.
One day after the NBA put its season on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic – a Utah Jazz player tested positive -- the NHL followed suit Thursday, as did the AHL, MLB, MLS and college conferences, which cancelled their basketball tournaments.
Unfortunate, but it’s the right call.
Here’s my
NHL.com RECAP of the Avalanche’s 3-2 overtime win against the New York Rangers on Wednesday, the last game story I’ll be writing for a while.
No more games, no more practices, no more team meetings or functions until further notice, until the NHL is given assurances by leading health authorities that the virus is under control and venues are safe for large public gatherings.
We’ll miss the games, but health comes first. Wash your hands and be smart, folks!
Commissioner
Gary Bettman is hopeful he’ll be able to award the Stanley Cup this season, and there have been reports that the league has asked teams to identify open arena dates through July; many of these buildings also are used by NBA teams, and concerts already have been scheduled for the summer.
The Cup has been kept on ice twice previously: in 1919 because of the Spanish flu, and when the 2004-05 lockout wiped out the entire season.
These are tough times for all sports organizations, and especially for a team like the Avalanche, who are just two points behind St. Louis for the Central Division and Western Conference lead with a game in hand. They seem a lock for second place at worst – the prize being home ice in the first round of the playoffs -- having opened a 10-point lead over free-falling Dallas.
Seven players remain out with injuries, most notably
Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Nazem Kadri and
Philipp Grubauer, so they’ll have more time to rehab (assuming this is still permitted).
The Avalanche opened what was to be a four-game homestand Wednesday against the Rangers, followed by Vancouver (Friday), Vegas (Sunday matinee) and San Jose (Tuesday). Eight of the remaining 12 games were scheduled at the Pepsi Center, including a possibly pivotal regular-season finale against St. Louis on April 4.
Now? Who knows?
Colorado Avalanche Blogger •Avalanche Insider • 
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