pensionplanpuppets.com file photo: The Toronto Maple Leafs star and San Ramon Calif native Austin Matthews has tested positive for Covid 19. The positive test could shutdown the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs before it even gets started

Headline Sports podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 With the recent discovery of three Tampa Bay Lightning players testing positive for Covid-19 and Austin Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs also found positive the NHL looks as if they will still move forward anyway to get training camp going and eventually start the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs.

#2 The Lightning are under scrutiny as they will be going through testing as the team facility will remain shut under orders from the team medical staff and NHL. The phase 2 rules of reopening guidelines calls for facilities closed and players tested after a player(s) have been found positive.

#3 Julien BriseBois, General Manager of the Lightning asked the Tampa Bay community to lower the curve as the state of Florida has been averaging around 3,000 cases a day of Covid by hand washing, face masking, and social distancing.

#4 With just this sampling of positive cases in the NHL will the NHL have to re-evaluate whether or not it’s such a wise idea to proceed with trying to start the Stanley Cup Playoffs or not?

#5 The name Sockeyes is leading in the polls amongst fans by 140,000 votes over the second place name Totems for Seattle’s newest NHL team name, however team CEO Tod Leiweke has said this is not the right time to unveil the new name because of the protests regarding racial injustice and Covid-19 shutdowns in Seattle. Leiweke said there is plenty of time to announce the new team name saying the organization is not tone deaf to these important issues.

Len Shapiro does Headline Sports every other Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com