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If the NHL is saying their season is on “pause” because of the COVID-19 scare, that sounds like what you would do with your favourite TV show as you go to the fridge or bathroom.

Just a momentary stop in the action, we’re not shutting off the set entirely, or so they’re fervently hoping, so they can still get those 82 games in then a full playoff slate.

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But of course, that’s a hockey league’s well-being, not world health.

So, what’s really realistic here?

Absolute best-case scenario: the puck’s dropped again April 15. Just a one-month hiatus so we can all see where COVID-19 has taken us, how many people are sick, whether the coronavirus has peaked in North America, so the NHL can still reach 82.

But, some teams still have 14 games to reach that figure. That would take three weeks minimum to get that finished. Then we’re at May 7 before the playoffs.

Getting back to work on May 1 seems a much more hopeful target. But then there is very little runway for regular-season games before the post-season.