NHL Announces Dates for Return to Play Best-of-5 Series
The NHL has released the schedules for the best-of-5 play-in series, along with the round robin games for teams in first and second place in their respective divisions (assuming all goes smooth and the season actually does resume). The schedule currently only consists of games for each date, with times and TV information coming soon.
The New York Rangers’ series against the Carolina Hurricanes will begin on the first day of the NHL’s Return to Play. They will be one of three Eastern Conference best-of-5 games to be played that day, along with the Florida Panthers against the New York Islanders and Montreal Canadiens at the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Their series will continue on Monday, Aug. 3 as one of two Eastern Conference play-in games (MTL vs. PIT); an Eastern Conference round robin game will take place that day as well (Washington Capitals vs. Tampa Bay Lightning).
The Rangers will play their first ‘home’ game against the Hurricanes on Tuesday, Aug. 4. If necessary, Game 4 will take place on Thursday, Aug. 6. If the series extends to five games, it will conclude on Saturday, Aug. 8.
Rangers Best-of-5 Schedule:
Saturday, Aug. 1: Rangers vs. Hurricanes
Monday, Aug. 3: Rangers vs. Hurricanes
Tuesday, Aug. 4: Hurricanes vs. Rangers
Thursday, Aug. 6: Hurricanes vs. Rangers* if necessary
Saturday, Aug. 8: Rangers vs. Hurricanes* if necessary
Other key dates include Phase 2 of the NHL Draft Lottery (Aug. 10), the start of each round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the last possible day for the Final (Oct. 4), and the 2020 NHL draft (Oct. 9-10).
