Had COVID-19 not shaken up National Hockey League (NHL) plans yet again, the New York Islanders would have hosted the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, and the roster led by Barry Trotz is well placed to grasp the magnitude of the problem with the circuit.
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The Islanders are experiencing a very eventful campaign in 2021-2022, they who had to wait until November 20 before playing a first match at their new home, UBS Arena. And again, the circumstances of the local opening had not been ideal, some players having been sidelined due to the coronavirus.
Then, the club saw a few of their fixtures pushed back following an outbreak of cases in their ranks last month. On the ice, the results were not conclusive: the New York formation occupies the cellar of the Metropolitan section with 22 points in 26 outings.
Thus, his hockey players will have a little more time to heal their wounds, they who bowed 4 to 3 in a shootout in front of the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday. Their next duel is scheduled for Thursday against the Washington Capitals, barring other unexpected developments.
“We were out of the rink and heard about it. The NHL and the Players’ Association made the decision. Obviously, we love playing here in front of our fans. In recent games we’ve been happy with our game, but it’s out of our control. I am sure they have decided to make sure that everyone is safe with the family, ”commented striker Jean-Gabriel Pageau on a daily basis. New York Post.
Guinea pigs
For Trotz, it would have been nice for the NHL to act differently when the Islanders were hit by COVID-19. He believes his people have literally served as “lab rats” for league decision-makers.
“I think if you can play, you play,” he said of the circuit’s choice not to put all of its activities on hiatus. No one felt sorry for us when there were cases on our side. And there are teams that will do better if they stop earlier. […] I believe that we and Ottawa were kind of the guinea pigs to help gather information. You put us on hold and we’ll end up playing 23 games in 30 nights. It’s not fair to the athletes, nor to the league and the fans. ”
Now, we will have to see what the NHL intends to do to make up for lost time on the calendar, but everything indicates that its participation in the Olympic Games is compromised. The break of a few weeks scheduled for February to allow players to travel to Beijing is more likely to be used for the presentation of matches postponed by COVID-19.