Gripe about the NHL when it comes to labor negotiations or officiating and you’ll always have plenty of negatives to focus on. One thing they are good at, however, is adapting quickly when necessary and the St. Louis Blues should be thankful for that regarding their schedule.
When the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild had covid problems, it would have been easy for the league to just tell their opponents the games would be made up eventually. Other leagues have done this and they either have managed to squeeze things in or they fall back on winning percentage.
Instead, the Blues filled the gap in their schedule with games against Arizona. Admittedly, it worked out since both were supposed to play Minnesota and Colorado. Had there not been similar gaps, things might have gone differently.
Nevertheless, the league adapted and gave themselves wiggle room in those teams’ schedules. Now, they are starting to fill the gaps.
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The Blues and the NHL announced several reschedule dates. Buckle yourselves in because this stuff bends the mind.
St. Louis will play in Minnesota against the Wild on March 25 at 7 pm CT. This forced a reschedule of a home game against the Anaheim Ducks. The Blues originally had back-to-back games against the Ducks, but now move their second game of that series to March 28, so as not to play three games in three days.
The Blues will have another game in Minnesota on April 12 at 7 pm CT. This forced another reschedule though, as the Blues home game against the Wild that was originally scheduled for April 11 will now be played on April 10. So, the Blues will have back-to-back home games against the Wild, then an off day and then play Minnesota up north.
After that, the Blues get an off day and then play one of their other missed games. April 14 will be a home game against the Colorado Avalanche at 8 pm CT.
The official press release did not mention any missing games. However, with only one rescheduled game against the Avalanche and two were missed at the start of February, logic would say there is still another home game for the Blues against the Avs to be added at some point.
So, don’t mark any of these dates or times down in pen or marker just yet. More tweaks are likely and that’s even if no other teams have any outbreaks.
Fingers crossed everyone stays safe and the season can continue. The talk of a possible two-week break was worrisome.