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The NHL has announced the schedule of games for the its pandemic-era summer qualifying round and playoffs. So now we know when the New York Islanders will play the Florida Panthers for the right to join the regular 16-team, four-round summer Stanley Cup playoff tourney.
But first: Exhibition game(s)!
We know there will be an exhibition game against the Rangers on July 29...in prime time:
#Isles vs. #NYR exhibition game on July 29 at 8 p.m. at Toronto
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) July 14, 2020
The games that matter will be a bit different, however. Here is the qualifying round schedule. The Islanders’ first game is on a Saturday afternoon, while others are on weekdays at midday. Of course.
#Isles vs. #FlaPanthers (all games at Toronto)
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) July 14, 2020
Game 1 - 8/1 - 4 p.m.
Game 2 - 8/4 - Noon
Game 3 - 8/5 - Noon
*Game 4 - 8/7 - TBD
*Game 5 - 8/9 - TBD
* if necessary
Broadcast schedules are to be announced soon. I know that I have personally been working 24/7 from remote conditions since the pandemic began, so I don’t mind pausing to watch playoff (sorry: play-in) hockey no matter the time of day.
The NHL hasn’t had best-of-five series since 1985-86, the last year where first-round, division semifinals were held in five-game formats (the Islanders were swept 3-0 by the Capitals) before the next three rounds were best-of-seven.
So this is going to be weird. Thankfully John Tonelli is back on good terms with the franchise, so we got this.