There is some discussion about when the postponed games between the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens that were scheduled to take place this week will be rescheduled. Players like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins have said they hope the games will take place before the end of the season but the NHL has yet to make an official announcement.
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TSN’s Pierre LeBrun is reporting on Thursday morning that he’s hearing the NHL has completed the re-scheduling of games for Montreal, Edmonton and Ottawa and the belief is that a game or two will be on May 11 which is the latest yet on the schedule. He adds, “Don’t think the NHL will announce changes until Montreal Covid situation is cleared up.”
As LeBrun points out, what’s interesting about this is that the schedule changes could theoretically change the start date for the NHL playoffs. He writes:
In any case, if indeed the NHL managed to re-schedule the North Division games without going past May 11, means they can start the playoffs by May 13 which isn’t much of a delay. Original playoff date listed was May 11.
What About How Often These Teams Play?
Let’s say the NHL doesn’t have to push back the start of the postseason. As is, the Oilers are scheduled to play games on May 4th, 6th and 7th. If their rescheduled games pop up between May 9th and May 11th (Canadiens are scheduled to play May 8th), that forces the Oilers and Habs to play six games in as few as eight nights. That’s a lot to ask. Not to mention, if you start the playoffs on May 13th, that’s not much rest for a team to travel and then play.
Even stranger, what if the Canadiens somehow manage to work their way back into the playoff picture? Is it possible the Oilers and Canadiens play as many as 10-straight games against each other? Regardless of whether both teams get in or not, these three games could have a huge impact on the playoff race and how tired one (or both) teams are heading into into the part of the schedule that matters the most.
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