NHL Restart Would Put Coyotes in Playoffs

Arizona Sports News online

Is the postseason drought for the Arizona Coyotes coming to end? 

Several reports in the last 24 hours indicate that the NHL would skip the remainder of the 2020 regular season and go right into a 24-team playoff format. The Coyotes sit in 11th place in the Western Conference and would make the postseason for the first time since 2012. 

According to the report, teams that finished in the 5th through 12th playoff spot would face-off in a best of five playoff  against a conference opponent. In this scenario, the Coyotes would play the Nashville Predators in the first round. 

The NHL has yet to open up facilities for players to return. In terms of where the playoffs would take place, the report states that Las Vegas, Columbus, Ohio and St. Paul, Minnesota are all under consideration to host in the United States. Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto are potential sites to be used in Canada.