Thursday and Friday’s playoff hockey games have been postponed.
The NHL, along with the NHLPA, released an official statement on Thursday afternoon.
“After much discussion, NHL Players believe that the best course of action would be to take a step back and not play tonight’s and tomorrow’s games and scheduled,” reads the statement.
The four games that were scheduled to take place on Thursday and Friday will be rescheduled starting Saturday, and the league says that the remainder of the second round of playoffs will be adjusted accordingly.
“Black and Brown communities continue to face real, painful experiences. The NHL and NHLPA recognize that much work remains to be done before we can play an appropriate role in a discussion centred on diversity, inclusion, and social justice.”
Statement from the National Hockey League Players’ Association and National Hockey League. https://t.co/uV1F5iDeUS pic.twitter.com/JS2t0MvUij
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) August 27, 2020
Two matches were scheduled to take place on Thursday, between the Vancouver Canucks and Vegas Golden Knights, and the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Islanders.
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) August 27, 2020
Friday’s schedule would have seen the Tampa Bay Lightning play the Boston Bruins, as well as the Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars.
More information to come. pic.twitter.com/xZdf2t1nT6
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) August 27, 2020
- See also:
Three NHL games took place on Wednesday, which drew criticism due to the lack of action and response after the police shooting of Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man in Wisconsin.
NBA players boycotted games in protest. Multiple games in MLB and MLS were also postponed yesterday, as was a WTA tournament and the WNBA.