Here’s something we’ve been waiting four and a half months to say:
It’s game day!
Players, staff, and teams continue to give us a glimpse of what life is like inside the NHL’s bubbles. Here’s a roundup of pictures, videos, updates, and other notable developments from Tuesday.
Penguins taking advantage of the amenities
Pre-game soccer kick-arounds were taken up a notch, and… might hotel tennis tournaments be the grown-up version of the hallway mini-sticks battles? (It would be easier on your shins.)
Gettin’ warm with some game day soccer
Can you tell Tanev is an energy guy? pic.twitter.com/LGJ5855T6P
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 28, 2020
All the sports are being played on Tuesday…
Tough break, @rustyyy_92 pic.twitter.com/PrqRX0Xa36
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 28, 2020
Czech the volley. @pastrnak96 | DK46 pic.twitter.com/Kbwhzg5iMZ
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) July 28, 2020
Multi-sport athletes pic.twitter.com/l7rltD6UOc
— x-Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) July 28, 2020
Players in Toronto also have access to TFC’s BMO Field for some time outdoors:
Teams to assess goalie situation during exhibition matchups
Players’ mask game is solid
Breakfast
Custom mask pic.twitter.com/zJamdyGpEB— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) July 28, 2020
Mask on. Game on. pic.twitter.com/Ia9otckDTD
— x-Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) July 28, 2020
Cale eats a salad. Kale Makar.
Cale eating Kale. The type on content we didn’t know we needed.
: @GabeLandeskog92
H/T @NHLHubsLife pic.twitter.com/ycjtZvkMiZ— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 28, 2020
Is age an advantage?
The best-of-five format of the qualifying round series leaves no room for error. It’ll be interesting to see how many teams who win Game 1 will go on to claim the series, and if age has anything to do with a team’s ability to go full-tilt right out of the gate — or if perhaps experience is an advantage.
Bear honouring his Indigenous heritage
Edmonton Oilers defenceman Ethan Bear, who is from Ochapowace Nation in southern Saskatchewan, will honour his Indigenous heritage when he hits the ice on Tuesday against the Calgary Flames. Bear’s sweater will feature his name written in Cree syllabics.
“It will be an honour to wear this jersey tonight,” Bear said. “I feel like I will be wearing it for all those Indigenous players who came before me and those Indigenous kids dreaming of playing in the NHL.”
#Oilers d-man Ethan Bear will honour his Indigenous heritage during tonight's #BattleOfAlberta exhibition game by displaying his jersey name bar in Cree syllabics.
| #LetsGoOilers https://t.co/7LAtHX6jOK
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) July 28, 2020
Someone in the bubble got their Panthers mixed up
I guess the @Panthers are in the @NHL bubble too. Maybe an exhibition game for state supremacy laterpic.twitter.com/Bxy0dQGCJU
— Justin Williams (@JustinWilliams) July 28, 2020
Bishop keeping things light
Dallas Stars goalie Ben Bishop has a little fun after his Tuesday media availability.
Who did it better: Ben Bishop or Michael Scott? #GoStars pic.twitter.com/gFF76HS2pN
— x-Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) July 28, 2020
(At 6-foot-7, that’s a lot of pretend stairs to get all the way down…!)
With the return of hockey, comes the return hockey hair
Salad skates will have extra flow this year.
Zoomin’ from the bubble pic.twitter.com/ZxI0KplH0J
— Calgary Flames (@NHLFlames) July 28, 2020
Luscious.#NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/46uMsuzY0J
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) July 28, 2020
Serious question: When do playoff beards begin?
Fierce rivals join forces during Anthem to take a stand against racism and hate
Ahead of today’s exhibition game, the @penguins and @NHLFlyers stood as one across the blue lines in support of #BlackLivesMatter and the fight against social injustice, racism, and hate. pic.twitter.com/dEX28OZuIf
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 28, 2020
The Blue Jackets announced they’ll do the same ahead of their Thursday matchup against the Boston Bruins, and it’s expected more teams will come together and take a stand together moving forward.
Crosby plays vs. Flyers
Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan gave both himself and his captain as much time as they could afford before making a decision on the status of Sidney Crosby ahead of Tuesday’s exhibition game against Philadelphia in Toronto. Crosby missed almost a week of practice after suffering an injury midway through Phase 3’s training camp when he left the ice during a team scrimmage.
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