Tag: NHL

Headline Sports podcast with Matt Harrington: How risky is it that NHL will not quarintine players?; Corona spiking in US as Vancouver drops out to be bubble city; plus more

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AP file photo: Fans prepare for the Feb 15, 2020 Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche out door game at Falcon Stadium at Air Force Academy in Colorado

Matt Harrington podcast with Matt Harrington:

#1 Matt Carolinas Medical Center medical director of infection prevention Katie Passaretti said that NHL players who travel together and have been exposed to a number of people to individuals who were asymptotic as the NHL is not planning to quarantine players.

#2 Vancouver is out of the bubble running of the three Canadian cities vying for a shot to host the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Reports say that politicians in Vancouver are listening to local medical professionals who have leaned on the side of caution and said it would be best not to have people from all over who have been exposed especially after learning 11 players in the NHL have come up positive.

#3 That leaves Edmonton and Toronto left to be one of the hub cities but with the recent spike in the states could they back out too?

#4 The NHL Seattle francise team president Tom Leiweke announced that Key Arena that has been newly refurbished will now be called Climate Pledge Arena and will be the first carbon neutral arena in the NHL that will be powered by renewable energy instead of using natural gas.

#5 Matt how safe is it now that the NHL has got report of several players coming up positive for Corona but they will loosen up the rules allowing 12 players to workout up from six players?

Join Matt for Headline Sports each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Headline Sports podcast with Marko Ukalovic: As NHL players were coming back to train so were the Covid test results; Hub city choices stand at seven; plus more

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Vancouver’s Roger’s Center stands by as a hopeful out of six cities in the running for a shot at being a hub city for the Stanley Cup Playoffs (dailyhive.com file photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Marko:

#1 The NHL has found that 11 more players who have tested positive for Covid-19. While the NHL was opening practice facilities, as the players were coming back so were the test results.

#2 Seeing that 11 players came up positive how much further could this push back the NHL schedule?

#3 The NHL is down to just seven cities to chose from as playoff hubs from the original ten. Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Dallas were eliminated leaving Chicago, Edmonton, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Toronto and Vancouver. It was reported that Vancouver and Las Vegas were selected but the NHL denied such rumors.

#4 The NHL is very happy that the Canadian government has waived the 14 day quarantine requirement and will allow teams to come and go for the playoffs. The three cities in the running as a hub city Edmonton, Vancouver and Toronto.

#5 Fans and media have been commenting about the practicality of opening the camps followed by the playoffs saying because of the rapid rise in Corona cases it would be best to try and start pre season followed by the regular season in September and October.

Marko joins Sportstalk each Wednesday night for Headline Sports podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Headline Sports podcast with Len Shapiro: How will the recent positive Covid tests effect the NHL’s return; Seattle holds off on announcing new team name

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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

Headline Sports podcast with Matt Harrington: Covid-19 cases spiking; NHL playoffs in doubt; Lighting have three players who tested positive

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globalnews.com file photo: Rogers Arena in Edmonton which sits empty at the moment is vying for a chance to be one out of three Canadian cities to host the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

Matt on Headline Sports podcast:

#1 There are a number of NHL players hesitating regarding returning back especially with the huge spike in Covid-19 cases in Florida 3,000 a day and how returning will be handled.

#2 Previously Canadian players can’t leave the U.S. because if they go home there is a 14 day quarantine involved. Also Nashville Predators general manager David Poile said there a number of players who have showed up for practice but the NHL is not mandating players to show up as practice is voluntary.

#3 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he would welcome the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the following Canadian hubs Edomonton, Vancouver and Toronto. Trudeau is set to waive the 14 quarantine and bubble the players in those venues for the players.

#4 Kaapo Kakko right winger of the New York Rangers had tested negative for Covid-19 and according to New York’s president John Davidson he’s been approved to play. Kakko has diabeties Davidson said he’s been tested and is ready to get in the line up.

#5 The Pittsburgh Penguins are 40-23-6 and are in the qualifiers with the Montreal Canadiens for the first round of the playoffs. They are said they most likely will start Matt Murray in goal. Murray is 20-11-5 with 2.87 goals against and an .899 save percentage.

Matt Harrington does Headlines podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Headline Sports podcast with Marko Ukalovic: NHL cities named as possible hubs for Stanley Cup Playofs

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Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews observes the action during the first period against the Blues at the United Center on Mon Dec 2, 2019. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is hoping to be a hub city host for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Chicago’s United Center.

Headline Sports podcast with Marko:

#1 Marko Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he would welcome the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in Canada. Canada has had an imposed travel ban with 14 day quarantine that will be imposed until at least July 20th. The three cities in Canada who are interested in hosting the playoffs are Edomonton, Toronto,or Vancouver.

#2 Ten cities in all are vying to host the playoffs including the following US cities, Columbus, Dallas, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, and Chicago. This week in an interview with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Lightfoot said she is extending the invitation that Chicago would like to host the NHL playoffs saying Chicago is a “hockeytwown. ”

#3 Marko realistically speaking safety is a huge concern for everyone in hockey from the players to the folks who clean the arenas each night after the games we’ve asked all along wouldn’t it be safe if hockey waited until a vaccine was found rather than start and have to stop again because someone tested positive?

#4 The Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin seems to be optimistic that players can shake off that old pandemic rust off from the shutdown and get to regulation NHL speed how much time do you think it will take for the players to get ready?

#5 Marko, the Buffalo Sabers fired their GM Jason Botterill although Botterill will take credit for the Brandon Montour signing. The overall picture for the Sabers is not too good they struggled before March’s shutdown and the Sabers have hired Kevyn Adams. Adams served as the vice president of business operations and played ten years in the NHL.

Join Marko for Headline Sports each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Stars GM Nill says “wheels are in motion”; Leafs Reilly hopes to get things going smoothly; plus more

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The Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins will face off during the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and talk show host Mary Lisa tells you all about it and more on today’s podcast (You Tube photo)

On Headline Sports with Mary Lisa:

#1 Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill said now that training camp is open “the wheels are in motion” phase three of the NHL Return to Play Plan is about to start but first the safety conditions and how to approach play is in the next phase.

#2 Phase four is about the start date for starting the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Toronto Maple Leafs Morgan Reilly said he was looking forward to getting started July 10th and hoping the terms between the players and NHL go smoothly to get things started.

#3 The first set of games will feature 16 teams and five games for the NHL qualifiers, the two hub city bubbles have not been determined yet. Speculation is the hubs will be in Las Vegas for the Western Conference and Toronto for the Eastern Conference.

#4 Mary Lisa tells us about a couple of the match up on tap for the Playoffs first the Pittsburgh Penguins (40-23-6) against the Montreal Canadiens (31-31-9) the Pens Jake Guentzel who had shoulder surgery on Dec 21st is expected back and for the Habs forward Jonathan Drouin who suffered an ankle injury and forward Jonathan Tatar are expected back in the line up.

#5 In the Western Conference the Edmonton Oilers (37-25-9) and the Chicago Blackhawks (32-30-8) for the Oilers defenceman Mike Green who had a knee injury and forward Joakim Nygard are back on ice. For the Hawks defenceman Calvin de Haan was out with a shoulder injury and forwards Andrew Shaw (concussion) and Zack Smith (hand) are all expected back.

Mary Lisa does Headline Sports every other Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Matt Harrington : CBJ’s coach Tortorella changes stance on taking a knee; Could Vancouver be a playoff hub?; plus more

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Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella says he has a different view of players taking a knee previously he had a rule that any player sitting during the anthem will sit for the entire game (NESN file photo)

Headlines Sports podcast with Matt Harrington:

#1 Columbus Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella has had a change of heart towards players taking a knee during the national anthem originally taking a knee would be out of the question and he would bench any player who sat during the national anthem after the murder of George Floyd and the protests Tortorella said he’s had a change of heart.

#2 The NHL Hockey Diversity Alliance headed up by the San Jose Sharks Evander Kane and Former Calgary Flame Akim Aliu took to social media and announced the Alliance wants diversity and an end to discrimination in hockey. Aliu had stated that he suffered many years of racial discrimination in the game of hockey. NHL vice president Kim Davis said that the NHL wants to work with the Alliance and wants action right away.

#3 Matt one of our favorite NHL cities Vancouver would like to be the hub city for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. British Columbia officials are trying to get the quarantine laws loosened so that Vancouver could serve as a representative city for post season.

#4 EA Sports has come out about having more diversity and getting on board with the Hockey Diversity Alliance but some players in the EA Sports Hockey League mode where players created dark skinned avatars that they gave the players derogatory racial names and insulting racial slogans.

#5 The Boston Bruins reported on Friday that they did have a player who tested false positive for Covid 19 but later took two tests and was asymptomatic and negative. All Bruins players who have returned in phase two have tested negative for the virus. Training camp opens July 10th.

Matt does Headline Sports each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: NHL playoff format set with four rounds of Stanley Cup action; NHL Hockey Diversity Alliance gives attention to discrimination in the game

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NHL image: The NHL announces the format of the qualifiers, conference finals and the Stanley Cup Finals

On Headline Sports with Jessica:

#1 Jessica with the return of the NHL and NBA these are contacts sports, these are open pore sports how can c0ncerned should the players be in avoiding contacting Covid-19 once the games start?

#2 The NHL and the players have agreed on the format a five game qualifier, round robins, conference finals and the Stanley Cup Final. The qualifier will be a five game format, the first, second and Finals will be seven game formats

#3 The team that wins 19 games will end up being the NHL Stanley Cup Finals Champion having to go through four rounds to get the coveted Stanley Cup.

#4 Currently there are only 28 minority players in the NHL the issue of race was brought into the forefront after the George Floyd killing by Minneapolis Police. The Hockey Diversity Alliance was formed with San Jose Sharks Evander Kane and former Calgary Flames Akim Aliu will be helping developing the Alliance. The Alliance designated purpose is to shine a light on discrimination in hockey which is overwhelming white and Aliu said he had to face racial discrimination for years during his NHL career.

#5 Jessica the next question is when organizations similar to the Diversity Alliance are set up when passions cool from the George Floyd killing will people just forget and the NHL could go back to business as usual?

Jessica does Headline Sports every other Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Marko Ukalovic: NHL Masterton Trophy Award candidates; Leafs excited about phase two morning skates; plus more

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The NHL Masterton Trophy is between three NHL candidates who will be the winner? Marko has that answer in today’s podcast (nhl.com photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Marko:

#1 The NHL Masterton Trophy candidates are from the Philadelphia Flyers Oskar Lindblom, St Louis Blues Jay Blouwmeester, and the Ottawa Senators Bobby Ryan. The award is given to the player that demonstrates, qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication.

#2 The Toronto Maple Leafs during morning skates this week wanted to make sure they have their phase 2 qualifier faces on. Center John Taveras makes no bones about it this is serious business saying they want to take advantage and get the cob webs out.

#3 The San Jose Sharks Evander Kane and former NHL player Akim Aliu are heading up the NHL’s Hockey Diversity Alliance. There are six current and former NHL players involved including the Sharks former skater Joel Ward. The Alliance is independent of the NHL but Kim Davis who is the NHL’s Sr. Vice President said that she is hopeful the NHL and the Alliance can both work together.

#4 Bob Murray the general manager for the Anaheim Ducks said that he left Ducks head coach Dallas Eakins without any support last season. Murray said that when he hired Eakins to replace former head coach Randy Carlyle he wanted to give Murray some space and some distance to run the club. The Ducks finished the season at 29-33-9 and failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for their second straight season and finished 13th in the Western Conference.

#5  Arizona Coyotes owner Alex Meruelo said that he will be making a decision on where the Coyotes will be playing hockey in the next two seasons from now. Meruelo has had his eye on the East Valley the Phoenix Metropolitan area. The City of Glendale where the Coyotes play now wants to talk to Meruelo about keeping the club in Glendale at the current building at Gila River Arena.

Join Marko each Wednesday for Headline Sports podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Headline Sports podcast with Matt Harrington: NHL is set to drop the puck at training camp Monday; Preparing for NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs

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photo from nhl.com: St Louis Blues head coach Chris Berube holds up the Stanley Cup after last season’s Stanley Cup Final. Berube says he and the team are anxious to get the post season going and hope to win their second consecutive championship

On Headline Sports podcast with Matt:

#1 The NHL says they’ve taken all the steps for phase two, all safety measures for enforcing mask wearing the all the practice and game rinks, social distancing, washing hands. The players and NHL seem to be in agreement on how safety measures will work.

#2 Teams reportedly will work out Monday and their will be only six players on the ice at anyone time. No coaches, trainers, officals will be permitted on the ice during practice sessions.

#3 The playoff format will be a best of seven series and as the Pittsburgh Penguins Kris Letang said everybody is used to the best of seven series format.

#4 The format will start with 16 teams an eight series qualifying round best of five, also there will a be a seeding round robin with four teams from each Western and Eastern conference.

#5 The St Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube said the Blues can’t wait to get into the playoffs. Berube says the team is hungry and they want to win a second consecutive Stanley Cup.

Matt does Headline Sports each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com