With the NHL regular season winding down, fans may be surprised to find out that there are no games scheduled for Friday, April 7th. This is a departure from past seasons, where some teams would play on Good Friday.
The NHL has not given a specific reason for the league-wide day off on Good Friday. However, the league has been known to occasionally take days off during the regular season, such as the three-day Christmas break.
Last season, there were only two games scheduled for Good Friday. They had six games scheduled the previous year. The league is giving teams a chance to rest and recharge before the grueling playoff schedule begins.
The possible reasons for the break before the NHL playoffs
One factor that may have influenced the decision to take a break on Good Friday is the NCAA Frozen Four, which takes place this weekend. The semifinals were held on Thursday, April 6th, and the championship game is scheduled for Saturday, April 8th. By not scheduling any NHL games on Friday, the league avoids competing with college hockey for viewership.
Another possible reason for the break is to give teams time to prepare and strategize for the postseason. The playoffs are a different animal. It features a more intense level of play and increased physicality.
Teams that are able to rest and recover before the playoffs may have an advantage over those that do not. Additionally, the break could provide teams with extra time to practice and fine-tune their strategies before the playoffs begin.
The break before the playoffs could have a significant impact on the postseason. Rested teams may have an advantage over teams that have been playing games right up until the end of the regular season. The break could also give injured players a chance to recover, potentially leading to a more competitive and evenly-matched postseason.
NHL fans took to Twitter and shared their views.
Many fans voiced their opinions on Twitter about Good Friday and its relevance to hockey. Others expressed their personal views about the holidays:
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