This is not an April Fool. The NHL is still shut down thanks to preventive measures over COVID-19. We did want to keep the impression of regularity with the monthly update.
We don't know what games the U.S. outlets would have carried down the stretch. We have preserved as much of the schedule, including a theoretical NHL Center Ice free preview. Consider this a blessing for the archives.
Hockey Night in Canada
April 4
Winnipeg @ Arizona, 4p/Montréal @ Toronto, 7p/Pittsburgh @ Ottawa, 7p
Edmonton @ Calgary, 10p/Las Vegas @ Vancouver, 10p
Rogers Sportsnet national telecasts
April 1 Montréal @ Nashville, 8p
April 2 Vancouver @ Arizona, 10:30p
NHL Center Ice free preview
Wednesday Montréal @ Nashville, 8p
Thursday Detroit @ Toronto, 7p
Ottawa @ Florida, 7p
Winnipeg @ Colorado, 9p
Las Vegas @ Calgary, 9p
Vancouver @ Arizona, 10:30p
Saturday Winnipeg @ Arizona, 4p
Montréal @ Toronto, 7p
Pittsburgh @ Ottawa, 7p
Edmonton @ Calgary, 10p
Las Vegas @ Vancouver, 10p
NHL, MLB, MLS latest sports leagues to suspend their regular season
How COVID-19 is impacting Canadian sports
COVID-19 had been hovering for awhile. Teams had finally decided to play in empty arenas. Then a NBA player tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus. The domino theory proved true this time as sports leagues suspended their schedules.
While NBA players and other sports figures with coronavirus are known, the 2 Ottawa Senators players who tested positive for COVID-19 have not been identified.
The unknown is very unknown. We will set up the Stanley Cup playoffs if that happens. We've never been about predictions on this blog, but we feel certain that when sports go back, there will be no crowds at these events.
NHL the month in preview March 2020
NHL the month in preview February 2020
NHL the month in preview January 2020
Enjoyed watching the U.S. and Canada versions honouring International Women's Day on March 8. Leah Hextall did well in her debut as did Kate Scott in the United States. Play-by-play was perhaps the weakest link on both sides of the border. Both countries can use more play-by-play people so grooming female options shouldn't be a one-off opportunity.
This was a really nice memory in the middle of a busy NHL picture. The treat was even more significant when 3 days later, the NHL would play their final games for a really long time.
NHL the month in preview December 2019
NHL the month in preview November 2019
NHL the month in preview October 2019
Canadian fans of the NHL have been used to disappoint over postponed events.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were supposed to play in the 2013 Winter Classic. That game was postponed due to the 2012–2013 NHL lockout. Our argument then was that the league didn't care about blowing off that game in Ann Arbor, MI since a Canadian team was the opponent. The 2014 Winter Classic showed the league why that was a mistake.
The Winnipeg Jets were supposed to get a Heritage Classic in the late fall of 2015. The NHL wanted the game in December shortly after the 2015 Grey Cup in Winnipeg. The Jets were concerned about that timeline. The game was postponed to October 2016 at a time in the season where the game wouldn't get too much publicity. Sadly the Heritage Classic in Regina suffered a similar fate with an October date from the NHL.
The Montréal Canadiens had to wait 6 years to play Boston in an Winter Classic and in a much more inferior location. The Habs were the logical opponent for the 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park. The Philadelphia Flyers, not even in the same division, were picked by the NHL as the opponent. The Habs finally got to play in the 2016 Winter Classic in the football stadium in Foxborough.
Montréal still has not hosted an outdoor game. Edmonton, the original site of a NHL outdoor game, will reportedly get the next shot at a Heritage Classic very far off in the future.
Our guide to the NHL Canadian teams coverage
CanadianCrossing.com NHL coverage
NBCSN was not scheduled to have a game involving Canadian teams so no announcers list to mock.
NHL Network finally gave the U.S. a late HNIC game and we get stuck with Canada's worst duo of Kevin Quinn and Louie DeBrusk. Rick Ball was available. Quinn and DeBrusk are each in their own lane, each giving a cream of wheat approach to the game.
CBC is showing Canadian films to fill time on Hockey Night in Canada
The CBC promos were the same ones from February 29. The Junos were scheduled for March 15 in Saskatoon but were cancelled over COVID-19.
There were early games scheduled for March 14 and March 21 as well as the early and late games from March 28 as part of the NHL Center Ice free preview. CBC ran Canadian films on those Saturday nights.
March 7 late game: Junos (1st); Fridge Wars; Junos; Oland Murder (2nd); Fridge Wars; Oland Murder (3rd)
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