The NHL is trying to hand out the Stanley Cup 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic, so with that, Tuesday marks a big day as we review the NHL 2019-20 Final standings, among other topics.
Commissioner Gary Bettman announced the league’s return-to-play plan, which includes a playoff schedule with 24 teams with two “hubs.” Numerous dates have yet to be set, but there are important windows, such as “early June” for resuming skating in small groups, and “no earlier than the first half of July” for formal training camps.
NHL 2019-20 Final standings
Eastern Conference standings (top 12 make cut for NHL 24 team format)
EASTERN CONFERENCE (Scotiabank Arena)
Round-robin [Standings, scenarios]
Sunday, August 2: Flyers 4, Bruins 1 (recap)
Monday, August 3rd: Lightning 3, Capitals 2 (SO) (recap)
Wednesday, August 5th: Lightning 3, Brown 2 (recap)
Thursday, August 6th: Flyers 3, Capitals 1 (recap)
Saturday, August 8th: Flyers vs. Lightning, 8 pm ET – NBC
Sunday, August 9th: Bruins vs. capitals, 12 pm ET – NBCSN
(5) Pittsburgh Penguins Vs. (12) Montreal Canadiens (MTL won series 3-1)
Saturday, August 1st: Canadiens 3, Penguins 2 (recap)
Monday, August 3rd: Penguins 3, Canadiens 1 (recap)
Wednesday, August 5th: Canadiens 4, Penguins 3 (recap)
Friday, August 7th: Canadiens 2, Penguins 0 (recap)
(6) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (11) New York Rangers (CAR won series 3-0)
Saturday, August 1st: Hurricanes 3, Rangers 2 (recap)
Monday, August 3rd: Hurricanes 4, Rangers 1 (recap)
Tuesday, August 4th: Hurricanes 4, Rangers 1 (recap)
(7) New York Islanders vs. (10) Florida Panthers (NYI won series 3-1)
Saturday, August 1st: Islanders 2, Panthers 1 (recap)
Tuesday, August 4th: Islanders 4, Panthers 2 (recap)
Wednesday, August 5th: Panthers 3, Islanders 2 (recap)
Friday, August 7th: Islanders 5, Panthers 1 (recap)
(8) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (9) Columbus Blue Jackets (Series tied 2-2)
Sunday, August 2nd: Blue Jackets 2, Maple Leafs 0 (recap)
Tuesday, August 4th: Maple Leafs 3, Blue Coats 0 (recap)
Thursday, August 6th: Blue Jackets 4, Maple Leafs 3 (OT) (recap)
Friday, August 7th: Maple Leafs 4, Blue Jackets 3 (OT) (recap)
Sunday, August 9th: Blue coats vs. Maple Leafs, 8 pm ET – NBCSN
[MORE: NHL announces full schedule for 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers]
Western Conference standings (top 12 make cut for NHL 24 team format)
[NBC 2020 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF HUB]
WESTERN CONFERENCE (Rogers Place)
Round-robin [Standings, scenarios]
Sunday, August 2nd: Avalanche 2, Blues 1 (recap)
Monday, August 3rd: Golden Knights 4, Stars 3 (recap)
Wednesday, August 5th: Avalanche 4, Stars 0
Thursday, August 6th: Golden Knights 6, Blues 4 (recap)
Saturday, August 8th: Golden Knights Vs. Avalanche, 3 pm ET – NBC
Sunday, August 9th: Stars vs. Blues, 3 pm ET – NBC
(5) Edmonton Oilers vs. (12) Chicago Blackhawks (CHI won series 3-1)
Saturday, August 1st: Blackhawks 6, Oilers 4 (recap)
Monday, August 3rd: Oilers 6, Blackhawks 3 (recap)
Wednesday, August 5th: Blackhawks 4, Oilers 3 (recap)
Friday, August 7th: Blackhawks 3, Oilers 2 (recap)
(6) Nashville Predators vs. (11) Arizona Coyotes (ARZ won series 3-1)
Sunday, August 2nd: Coyotes 4, Predators 3 (recap)
Tuesday, August 4th: Predators 4, Coyotes 2 (recap)
Wednesday 5 August: Coyotes 4, Predators 1 (recap)
Friday, August 7th: Coyotes 4, Predators 3 (OT) (recap)
(7) Vancouver Canucks vs. (10) Minnesota Wild (VAN won series 3-1)
Sunday, August 2nd: Wild 3, Canucks 0 (recap)
Tuesday, August 4th: Canucks 4, wild 3 (recap)
Thursday, August 6th: Canucks 3, Wild 0 (recap)
Friday, August 7th: Canucks 5, Wild 4 (OT) (recap)
(8) Calgary Flames Vs. (9) Winnipeg Jets (CGY won series 3-1)
Saturday, August 1st: Flames 4, Jets 1 (recap)
Monday, August 3rd: Jets 3, Flames 2 (recap)
Tuesday, August 4th: Flames 6, Jets 2 (recap)
Thursday, August 6th: Flames 4, Jets 0 (recap)
* – if necessary
2020 NHL Draft Lottery Results
The Draft lottery was won by a team involved in the Return to Play plan. That means there will be a phase 2 draw with the eight losing teams from the qualifying match. Those teams will each have a chance of 12.5% after the top save in the draw, which is held between the qualifying match and the First Round.
Placeholder team
2. Los Angeles Kings
3. Ottawa Senators (via San Jose)
4. Detroit Red Wings
5. Senators of Ottawa
6. Anaheim Ducks
7. New Jersey Devils
8. Buffalo Sabers
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9. Placeholder team
10. Placeholder team
11. Placeholder team
12. Placeholder team
13. Placeholder team
14. Placeholder team
15. Placeholder team
The current teams in the lottery for pick no. 1 are: Penguins, Rangers, Panthers, Oilers, Predators, Wild, Jets
If the COVID-19 pandemic forces the NHL to pull the plug when playing games, the lottery would then only include the eight lowest teams by reversing their usual season points percentage. That would mean Arizona, Chicago Columbus, Florida, Minnesota, Montreal, New York Rangers, and Winnipeg would be up for the No. 1 pick.
NHL AWARD FINALISTS
• Ted Lindsay Award: Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon, Artemi Panarin
• Calder Trophy: Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar, Dominik Kubalik
• Jack Adams Award: Bruce Cassidy, John Tortorella, Alain Vigneault
• Masterton Trophy: Stephen Johns, Oskar Lindblom, Bobby Ryan
• Lady Byng Trophy: Nathan MacKinnon, Auston Matthews, Ryan O’Reilly
• Vezina Trophy: Connor Hellebuyck, Tuukka Rask, Andrei Vasilevskiy
Selke Trophy: Patrice Bergeron, Sean Couturier, Ryan O’Reilly
• Norris Trophy: John Carlson, Victor Hedman, Roman Josi
• Hart Trophy: Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon, Artemi Panarin
