Green light for Phase 2

Some National Hockey League players can put on their happy phase starting on Monday.

The league announced late Thursday that it was moving to Phase 2 of its four-step returnto-play plan, which should see more players trickle back to their respective team training bases next week.

That, of course, is subject to the facilities being sanitized for COVID-19 and players continuing to observe the basics of physical distancing.

The catch is that Phase 2 participation is still on a voluntary basis, with some players naturally remaining fearful of the pandemic, while the players association is still negotiating details of the 24-team return-to-play playoff tournament.

And only small groups — a maximum of six players at any one time — plus a limited number of club staff, will be allowed on and off the ice.

“The various measures set out in the Phase 2 protocol are intended to provide players with a safe and controlled environment in which to resume their conditioning,” a statement from the league said. “Phase 2 is not a substitute for training camp.

“All necessary preparations for Phase 2, including those that require player participation (education, diagnostic testing, scheduling for medicals, etc.), can begin immediately.”

— GETTY IMAGES FILES By virtue of their respective records when play was suspended because of the health pandemic, the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues — last spring’s Stanley Cup finalists — will be the top seeds heading into the projected NHL reboot.