The NHL has extended its regular season to May 16 to allow teams in the all-Canada North Division to make up games that were postponed because of a COVID-19 outbreak among the Vancouver Canucks. The league has left open the possibility, however, that teams in the three other divisions that were created for this pandemic-postponed, 56-game season might start their postseason competition on May 11.
The first two playoff rounds are to be played within each division among the top four finishers in their respective divisions. Those games can be played while regular season play continues in the North Division to decide that division’s four playoff qualifiers.