” Its various,” stated Stars center Tyler Seguin, who had been through Media Day at the Cup Final with the Boston Bruins in 2011 and 2013. You have to go back 70 years to find the last time Cup Final video games were played at a neutral website. In 1950, thanks to a scheduling conflict with a circus at Madison Square Garden, the New York Rangers hosted the Detroit Red Wings in Games 2 and 3 of the Cup Final at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. You have to go back 101 years to find the last time a Stanley Cup series was interrupted by a pandemic. As of Friday, were eight to 13 days from the Lightning or the Stars hoisting the Cup, and the debate isnt whether this championship will be genuine.
It was Media Day at the 2020 Stanley Cup Final, and Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper used a gray Cup Final sweatshirt in front of a black Cup Final background as he addressed concerns at the JW Marriott in Edmonton. Maybe on video it looked typical.
It was anything.
At one point, Cooper heard the voice of Edmonton Journal writer Jim Matheson, whose plaque hangs at the Hockey Hall of Fame as a winner of the Elmer Ferguson Memorial Award for bringing honor to journalism and hockey. Cooper could not see him.
” Jim, did you ask that question on the other side of the fence?” Cooper stated. “Are you nearby?”
They chuckled together, but independently.
Matheson was at his condo, 10 minutes from the hotel conference room the Lightning and the Dallas Stars utilized to preview the Cup Final on Friday. Video game 1 is at Rogers Place in Edmonton, the hub city for the best-of-7 series, on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, SN, TVAS)
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[RELATED: Complete Stanley Cup Final coverage].
No media remained in person at Media Day, simply as no media have been in the bubble and no fans have remained in the stands this postseason due to the fact that of the coronavirus pandemic.
Typically, press reporters crowd around each other and their topics at Media Day, jostling for position, shouting questions. This time, whether close by or throughout the continent, they did what theyve needed to provide for months: ask questions via video conference.
” Its various,” stated Stars center Tyler Seguin, who had been through Media Day at the Cup Final with the Boston Bruins in 2011 and 2013. … Theres so much media and cams in your face, and that atmospheres buzzing.
Surreal is an understatement.
After the season was stopped briefly March 12 due to concerns surrounding the nhl, the nhl and the coronavirus Players Association developed a Return to Play Plan with an unmatched 24-team postseason tournament.
Twelve teams from the Eastern Conference went into the bubble in Toronto on July 26. Twelve teams from the Western Conference entered into the bubble in Edmonton the exact same day. Now, 55 days later, were down to 2 finalists.
At the time of year we should be playing the preseason, we have 2 southern American groups playing the Cup Final in a northern Canadian city.
This is historic.
You have to go back 70 years to discover the last time Cup Final video games were dipped into a neutral website. In 1950, thanks to a scheduling conflict with a circus at Madison Square Garden, the New York Rangers hosted the Detroit Red Wings in Games 2 and 3 of the Cup Final at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. A minimum of there were fans in the stands.
Video: Stars, Lightning set to fight in Stanley Cup Final.
You have to go back 101 years to find the last time a Stanley Cup series was interfered with by a pandemic. With the series 2-2-1, the Cup was not granted.
Which brings us to whats most essential.
The goal all along has actually been to keep everybody safe and award the Stanley Cup with integrity. As of Monday, nobody in the bubble has tested favorable for COVID-19. Since Friday, were 8 to 13 days from the Lightning or the Stars raising the Cup, and the debate isnt whether this championship will be genuine. Its whether this will go down as the hardest to win in NHL history.
” Its definitely been an odd season, certainly with whatever thats been going on,” Lightning forward Yanni Gourde stated. “Its been a long season considering we were off for 4 months, I believe. However yeah, were grateful that we have this chance to play here in the bubble, that were still playing hockey for the Stanley Cup.”.
None of this has actually been ideal, not for the fans and media not able to be there, not for the teams and staff separated from the world to put on the program. This, who desires to go home from the bubble without the Cup?
” Usually, we understand, were dealing face to face with all of you, so whatever about that is different,” Stars coach Rick Bowness informed reporters at Media Day. “But when it comes right down to it– and this is what we tell our gamers– this is the video game, guy. Weve got to focus on the game. Were here to win the Stanley Cup.
” All of these things beyond it have changed. Its all different. Were utilized to that now. Weve been here for nearly 8 weeks. However the most essential thing is, when you remain concentrated on the goal, then the objective is the same regardless of the situations.”.
