NHL allows practice groups to expand to 12 players, effective Tuesday

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The NHL will allow on-ice practice sessions to include up to 12 players starting Tuesday, Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reports.

Small-group workouts have been limited to six players per session since they began on June 8.

The NHL’s decision to expand the number of players allowed at practice sessions is a continuation of Phase 2 of the league’s return-to-play plan. Phase 3, the reopening of training camps, is scheduled to begin July 10.

On Friday, the Tampa Bay Lightning temporarily shut down their training facilities after three players and additional staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Also on Friday, the NHL announced that more than 200 players have been tested and 11 have tested positive since June 8.

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