Even Mother Nature doesn’t want hockey to be played this year.
Between Friday night and Saturday morning, a blizzard dumped snow over the Northeastern United States and Canada. While some areas that received snow were able to get their scheduled games in, such as the Penguins taking on the Devils at the Prudential Center, fans in Boston are not as lucky.
The game against the Lightning, which was originally scheduled for 1:00 PM, was pushed back until 7:00 to allow the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to plow roads and ensure safe travels for everyone in the state. However, because of a state of emergency that has not yet been lifted, the National Hockey League has decided to postpone the game. Here’s the official release from the League:
Today's game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins at the TD Garden, NHL Game No. 154, has been postponed due to the continuing, weather-related State of Emergency that remains in effect in Boston.
A make-up date will be announced as soon as it can be confirmed.
Although both Clubs and the assigned on-ice officials are in Boston, travel conditions remain too hazardous for fans, security personnel and TD Garden staff to get to the arena.
The last game that was canceled due to weather was back in September of 2010, when a preseason game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers was canceled due to Tropical Storm Nicole. Both teams have scheduled games on Sunday: The Bruins travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres while the Lightning head south to The Big Apple to take on the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Tampa Bay does not travel to Boston again this season and puts the league in a tough spot to figure out when to reschedule this game because of the condensed schedule.
Photo credit: Boston Bruins official web site
