LIFE IN THE BUBBLE
Teams aim for quick kill
Other than goaltending, killer instinct may become the key to success in what we’re dealing with here.
If there was ever a year that you wanted to sweep a series or two in the Stanley Cup playoffs, this is it.
It’s likely never been as important to keep series short than this year because of the extra round and compact schedule, including back-to-back games.
Barry Trotz, who last year coached the New York Islanders to a sweep of the Pittsburgh Penguins, went up three games to none on the Washington Capitals on Sunday in Toronto.
The Calgary Flames, up by a goal with a chance to go up 3-1 in their series with Dallas, ended up losing 16 minutes into overtime as the Stars tied the series, ensuring it would go six games minimum.
The Chicago Blackhawks pushed back against the Vegas Golden Knights in their attempt to dispatch the Blackhawks in four straight games and run their record to 7-0 in the expanded 24-team edition of the coronavirus pandemic inspired August-september version of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
It’s always important, in the Stanley Cup playoffs, to get a series or two over early but it’s never been in play like this before.
With an extra qualifying series round involved and a backto-back set of games included in each series, there are more games in fewer days than usual to win the so-called toughest trophy to win in pro sports.
Yes, the Hub City no-travel concept involved in the coronavirus pandemic 24-team tournament being played out for three rounds in Toronto and from beginning to end in Edmonton dramatically reduces the wear and tear factor. But as we go forward, wrapping up a series early and giving yourself a chance to get out of the quarantine protocols not involving practices or games potentially becomes a big thing when it comes to the mental health of those involved.
Contrast the situation that the Golden Knights find themselves in to the one the Columbus Blue Jackets face as they go into Game 4 against Tampa Bay on Monday afternoon in Toronto.
The Blue Jackets, down two games to one after a 2-1 loss in Game 3, were the only team that was forced to go the distance in the best-of-five qualifying series to eliminate the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Columbus has played an additional 122:01, the equivalent of two extra regulation games, in getting to this point with the overtime games involved so far against the Lightning.
That, of course, included playing 90:27 in the fourth-longest Stanley Cup game of all time in losing Game 1 to Tampa.
“It’s been quite a bit of hockey,” said Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella after the loss Saturday night.
“From the qualifier starting the playoffs, right away, we were the first game.” Going forward, NHL Hub City project head
Steve Mayer is already shifting into the next year to engage the teams that survive this round by winning a short series.
“We’re working with the Alberta health officials with excursions. If a surviving team wants to go golfing, they’re not just going to be able to put together a foursome and head to a golf course and get a tee time but they’ll be able, with a bit of planning time involved, be able to golf.
“It’ll be very exclusive, organized and sanitized.”
The excursions available will even include fishing. And Mayer said his team will put on the cruise director hats to work with teams to accommodate any excursions they might come up with, he said.
“If they want to go bowling, it’s not as simple as heading out to go bowling. We have to book the bowling alley, send a crew over to sanitize it to the extent that our protocol demands and everything else involved.”
Already kicking in is the availability of Commonwealth Stadium, said Mayer.
“We cleaned the place from top to bottom with the areas we needed and Vegas, Colorado and Chicago all went over there to try it out. At this point, it’s important for everybody involved to get outside. Everybody has been inside since they got here other than the Ice District.
“At Commonwealth Stadium, we have set up soccer nets, pickle ball and bocce to comfortably just be able to hang out.”
With Sunday the last threegame day here, Mayer said they are now organizing movie nights inside the bubble.
“Saturday night we bought the UFC event to show it on the big screen outside. Little things like that go a long way,” he said.
“We’re ready. The teams that win these series have already been here for a while and are going to continue to be here for a while. We were always shooting for this upcoming week.
“To this point, the players have been telling us we’ve been doing a great job. But we clearly realize we have to occupy these guys over the course of the next few weeks
“I mean, it’s not even halfway over. And I have my staff, as well. I have a staff that hasn’t had a day off since they got here. They’ve worked 40 consecutive days.
“Trust me, I understand. When it comes to everybody in the bubble, we don’t want to get into any mental health issues. It’s really important.”