The Blackhawks went about their business as usual on Tuesday. They practiced at Fifth Third Arena. They rolled out some new lines. They worked on a power play that’s struggled all season long. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Then, they were thrown off their typical routine.
In a joint statement with MLB, MLS and NBA, the NHL announced on Monday that it is temporarily banning locker room access due to the coronavirus outbreak. The changes went into effect on Tuesday, and both players and coaches were brought upstairs to a press conference area where media members were instructed to keep a six to eight-foot distance.