Boston Bruins To Return To The Ice In August

BOSTON — More than three months after suspending the remainder of the season due to the coronavirus pandemic, the National Hockey League is ready to once again hit the ice. The return to play schedule begins with a round-robin in the first week of August.

The NHL halted the ongoing season March 12, the fourth professional sports league to do so, as the coronavirus pandemic gripped the country. On Friday, the league reached a tentative agreement with players to begin training camps July 13, send clubs to hub cities July 26 and begin the qualifying round Aug. 1.

The new season kicks off with a set of round-robin games in August. The Bruins will play the Philadelphia Flyers Aug. 2, followed by the Tampa Bay Lightning Aug. 5 and the Washington Capitals Aug 8.

According to the league, a Stanley Cup champion is expected to be crowned in early October. The 12 participating teams form the Eastern Conference will play in Toronto, Canada, while the Western Conference will play in Edmonton, which will also host the Finals. Up to 52 people from each team can enter "secure zones," including 31 players. These groups will be kept in "bubbles" to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, with daily testing in place and frequent symptom checks.

"While we have all worked very hard to try to address the risks of COVID-19, we know that health and safety are and will continue to be our priorities," said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. "We know that all of our fans are excited about our return to the ice next month and that has been our goal since we paused our season on March 12."

The round-robin games will determine which eight teams will qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, or the top four from each conference.

Here's a look at the Bruins' upcoming schedule.

• July 13: Boston Bruins Training Camp opens at Warrior Ice Arena
• July 26: Boston Bruins travel to Toronto, ON
• July 28 to July 30: Exhibition Games
• Aug. 2: Round Robin Game vs. Philadelphia Flyers
• Aug. 5: Round Robin Game vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
• Aug. 8: Round Robin Game vs. Washington Capitals
• Aug. 11: First Round of Stanley Cup Playoffs begins

Correction: A previous version of this story listed incorrect dates.