Boston Bruins forwards David Pastrnak and Ondrej Kase aren't expected to practice with the club until the team arrives in Toronto, team president Cam Neely said Wednesday, according to NHL.com's Amalie Benjamin.

"It's hard to say right now," Neely said. "My best guess would be Toronto. Once we get to Toronto, I think we'll be fine."

Pastrnak and Kase haven't participated in the majority of Boston's training camp. Pastrnak's agent said July 17 that his client is quarantining after coming in contact with someone that tested positive for COVID-19, though Pastrnak himself tested negative.

Pastrnak finished the season tied for the NHL lead with 48 goals in 70 games, adding 47 assists for a career-high 95 points. Kase only played in six games with the Bruins after being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks prior to the trade deadline.

Both players spent the majority of the NHL's hiatus in their native Czech Republic. The Bruins have missed numerous key players during training camp because of Massachusetts regulations regarding the pandemic.

"Some other teams are dealing with this, obviously, but what the state regulations are compared to maybe some other states are a little different across the country," Neely said. "We're following all the state guidelines. ... We're following all the protocols, not just the league protocols, but the state protocols."

All teams are expected to travel to their respective hub cities by July 26. The Bruins, the No. 1 seed in the East, will participate in a round robin with the other top-four teams in the conference beginning Aug. 2 versus the Philadelphia Flyers.

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Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews opposed the return-to-play plan and CBA extension ratified by the NHL and NHLPA in early July.

The Blackhawks and the Carolina Hurricanes were the only teams two to vote against the league's proposal when the NHLPA's executive board took its most recent tally, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said on "31 Thoughts: The Podcast" on July 16.

Toews is the Blackhawks' player representative, and Jordan Martinook serves the same role for the Hurricanes.

"I have been told by many, many, many people that one of the most vocal players during the process of coming back to play was Jonathan Toews, that he asked a lot of questions," Friedman said.

"And other players said ... he was great, he asked relevant questions, (and) he challenged whether or not this was really safe to play. They said that when you talk about star players standing up for other people, he did that."

The Hurricanes and the Tampa Bay Lightning were the only two teams to oppose the NHL's 24-team playoff in an earlier vote in May.

The NHL and NHLPA ratified the deal to resume the 2019-20 season on July 10.

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There seems to be a belief in hockey circles that young legs will be the least impacted by the NHL's long pause, while older players will take longer to get going.

That idea will be put to the test as the budding Vancouver Canucks take on a veteran Minnesota Wild squad in a best-of-five series.

The case for Vancouver

The Canucks are among the league's biggest beneficiaries from the pause in play. When the campaign was halted, they were on a 6-9-2 run, had just lost starting goalie Jacob Markstrom for the season, and were trending toward missing the playoffs altogether. This break afforded them a mental reset while allowing their prized asset to get back between the pipes.

With Markstrom, the Canucks have a massive edge over Minnesota in goal. The Swede is enjoying a career season with a .918 save percentage and 2.75 goals-against average. Playing for a new contract and going up against a Wild team that doesn't pack much scoring punch, a rested Markstrom will thrive.

That's not the only area where the Canucks have an edge. Led by Elias Pettersson - whose campaign was worthy of Hart consideration - Vancouver has the superior top six, as well as an advantage behind the bench (the Wild are being instructed by an interim coach) and a favorable mismatch on special teams, where the Canucks' fourth-ranked power play will face the Wild's 25th-ranked penalty kill.

The case for Minnesota

Vancouver's high-flying attack won't strike much fear into a Minnesota team that excels defensively. The Wild do a terrific job of suppressing high-danger shots and forcing opponents to the perimeter, reflected in their 2.07 expected goals against per 60 minutes (xGA/60) total this season - the lowest mark in the NHL. Their overall goals-against numbers weren't great, but that's down to Devan Dubnyk's struggles. Alex Stalock eventually took over as the regular starter and posted a .920 SV% from Jan. 16 on, with the Wild going 11-4-1 in his starts over that span.

While limiting goals against wasn't an issue for the Wild, scoring was. Minnesota ranked in the bottom third of a number of offensive categories but experienced a reversal of fortune over the second half following the emergence of Kevin Fiala. The 23-year-old came to life in February and ignited the Minnesota offense, posting 14 goals and 12 assists in the Wild's 18 games before the break. It's no coincidence that they averaged 3.5 goals per game over that span. For comparison, the Tampa Bay Lightning were the league's best offense this season, averaging exactly 3.5 goals per game.

If the Wild truly have the offense to match their typically dependable defense, the Canucks are in trouble. Also helping Minnesota's cause is a porous Vancouver defense that posted a 2.77 xGA/60 this season - third-worst in the NHL. The Wild play a fundamentally sound brand of hockey suited for the postseason, while the Canucks' defensive game plan is for Markstrom to bail them out. That's ... not ideal.

The pick

Minnesota Wild (+115)

Minnesota came a long way over the second half of the season thanks to Fiala's emergence, a more aggressive approach under interim head coach Dean Evason, and the steadiness of Stalock. Vancouver boasts plenty of firepower, but it's still a very green team that's a bit too unstructured in its approach, and that will cost the Canucks against the stingy, patient Wild.

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

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Despite Toronto being chosen as a hub city for the NHL's return to play, the Maple Leafs are adjusting to not having full use of their regular amenities.

To level the playing field, the NHL is making distinct efforts to ensure the host teams - Toronto and Edmonton - don't get full use of their facilities. For example, the Maple Leafs will have to use the visitors' dressing rooms and converted media room space for games where they're the "road" team.

"That's going to be quite challenging," head coach Sheldon Keefe told Sportsnet's Chris Johnston on Tuesday. "I think we've got enough time next week where we're going to get that feeling."

Captain John Tavares said the Leafs won't have time to dwell on the differences from their normal routine.

"I think for our group, the getting comfortable with being uncomfortable (is important) and dealing with the uncertainties and things that you're accustomed to or used to, just realizing they may not be there," Tavares said. "You might not have access to that. We're the visiting team in our building, there's going to be no fans.

"It just is what it is."

The Maple Leafs are the visiting team for their exhibition contest versus the Montreal Canadiens on July 28. Afterward, they're the home squad for Games 1, 2, and 5, if necessary, for their play-in series versus the Columbus Blue Jackets.

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The Philadelphia Flyers signed forward Oskar Lindblom to a three-year contract extension with an average annual value of $3 million, the club announced Wednesday.

More to come.

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The New York Islanders' future facility now has a name.

The Belmont Park building will be called UBS Arena, as the Swiss-based investment bank and financial services company secured an exclusive 20-year naming rights agreement.

Oak View Group CEO Tim Leiweke told Newsday's Jim Baumbach and Candice Ferrette that UBS intended to "send a strong message about their commitment to the future of this city, the metropolitan area, and the economy" in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

OVG is helping oversee the site's development in addition to guiding the renovation of Climate Pledge Arena - formerly KeyArena - the home of Seattle's NHL expansion franchise. UBS' American headquarters are located in New York City.

Construction at the Belmont Park site resumed in May after the $1.5-billion project was paused in late March due to the pandemic.

The team broke ground last September, targeting the start of the 2021-22 season for its official opening.

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The Edmonton Oilers will feel aggrieved for being forced to take part in the play-in round. They earned the fourth-most points in the Western Conference when the season was halted, but their points-per-game mark was a shade lower than the Dallas Stars, which leaves their playoff fate hanging in the balance.

Playing the entirety of the series on home ice is somewhat of a consolation prize, but a date with the offensively inclined Chicago Blackhawks makes for a tricky return to the ice for the high-powered Oilers.

The case for Edmonton

This draw couldn't be much better for the Oilers, as the Blackhawks' flaws play right into Edmonton's strengths. Chicago placed last in the NHL in expected goals against at even strength. The Hawks are a defensive mess and have to face the league's two most dangerous scorers in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

The Blackhawks' brutal defense was often bailed out by Robin Lehner, who was understandably shipped off to Vegas at the trade deadline because Chicago didn't appear close to making the playoffs. Well, here we are. Corey Crawford has enjoyed a bounce-back season, but he'll have to stand on his head to steal this series for Chicago, and the supporting cast won't do him any favors.

Edmonton converted on an absurd 29.5% of power plays - by far the league's best mark - and the team received some much-needed secondary scoring from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who really stepped up this season. These Oilers love to attack and will have their way with a Blackhawks team that bleeds goals.

The case for Chicago

Yes, Chicago struggled defensively, but the Oilers weren't much better. Edmonton finished 24th in expected goals against at even strength, and for as offensively gifted as the Oilers are, Chicago still posted a higher expected goals for mark. The Blackhawks will fight fire with fire, and they aren't lacking in artillery.

The Oilers' struggles at even strength are legitimately concerning and holds them back from being considered strong title contenders. Even Draisaitl and McDavid were pedestrian at even strength, being scored on almost as often as they scored. Edmonton's third and fourth lines were particularly bad, which could mean a big series for Chicago's Dominik Kubalik and Kirby Dach. The Oilers' run-and-gun style leaves them far too exposed far too often - hardly a recipe for playoff success.

Chicago needs to turn this into a bit of pond hockey, which feels like the natural progression of the series given the styles and weaknesses of both teams. From there, the Blackhawks can lean into the likes of Patrick Kane and his electrifying supporting cast while counting on Crawford to rise to the occasion as he's done in previous postseasons, outplaying Mikko Koskinen and setting the scene for an upset.

The pick

Edmonton Oilers (-160)

Every case that can be made for the Blackhawks can also be made for the Oilers. Chicago is essentially a lesser version of its opponents. The Oilers are flawed, but the Blackhawks are not the team to expose them. Edmonton will lean into its stars and have its way with Chicago's miserable defense, ending a two-year playoff drought.

(Odds source: theScore Bet)

Alex Moretto is a sports betting writer for theScore. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.

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Despite having the seventh-best record in the entire league, the Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves in a series against the 24th overall Montreal Canadiens with a playoff berth at stake.

All signs point to the Penguins having the edge, but absolutely anything can happen in hockey, especially in a best-of-five series. Let's take a look at the upcoming matchup between these two teams.

Schedule

*If necessary

Tale of the tape

Season series

The Canadiens dropped two out of three of their matchups with the Penguins this season, but things were actually pretty even between the two clubs. Montreal won 4-1 in the first meeting, lost 3-2 in overtime in the second, and lost 4-1 in the final match. Goaltender Carey Price started all three games, while Sidney Crosby missed two of them due to injury.

Montreal last matched up with Pittsburgh in the second round of the 2010 postseason. The Canadiens shocked the high-flying Penguins and defeated them in seven games.

Key players to watch

Carey Price

It's no surprise that all eyes will be on Price. For years, he's been the Canadiens' backbone. The Habs often only go as far as Price can take them. When he's at the top of his game, Montreal has shown that it is capable of winning in the playoffs.

Price's play hasn't been all that consistent over the past three seasons, but he's still shown flashes of brilliance. That inconsistency could be due to fatigue - since the beginning of the 2016-17 season, Price has started the fourth-most games in the league (232). He's also been tasked with backstopping a team that's prone to defensive lapses. The four months of rest the 32-year-old received during the season's hiatus could just be what he needed to regain his MVP form.

Sidney Crosby

It also comes as no surprise that Crosby will be the No. 1 player to watch from Pittsburgh. He missed a handful of games due to injury this season but should enter the play-in round fully rested and ready to go. The captain's playoff resume is well-known as he sets out to pursue a fourth Stanley Cup.

In 40 career regular-season games against the Canadiens, Crosby recorded 19 goals and 52 points. Since 2008-09, the Penguins star ranks first in the league in playoff points (154) and points per game (1.11) among players with at least 90 games played. It's hard to believe that Crosby will turn 33 in August, but his play has yet to show any sort of meaningful decline - which means we should see a vintage performance from the star.

Canadiens can win if ...

The Canadiens face the tough task of slowing down the Penguins' lethal top six. With Crosby and Evgeni Malkin down the middle, Montreal needs to find a way to neutralize the pair of superstars and the skilled players that surround them.

A lot of things have to go right for Montreal to take this series. The Canadiens are usually able to muster up some goals, but they're often buried by their poor play on defense and special teams. Price can only do so much, and the players in front of him will need to step up to limit the Penguins' chances.

Penguins can win if ...

Despite battling through injuries to key players all season long, the Penguins still managed to finish near the top of the league in goals per game. One thing that didn't click as usual for Pittsburgh was its power play, which finished 16th in the league. Over the past three seasons, Pittsburgh's power play was the third-best in the league, converting at a 23.8% rate.

If Pittsburgh can get its special teams back on track, it will do wonders. Montreal's penalty kill has been one of the worst in the league over the past three years, and it will be difficult for the Canadiens to suppress Pittsburgh's power play. The Penguins' man-advantage unit was missing the majority of its mainstays throughout the season. Now that they're expected to be mostly healthy, the power play has a good chance to rebound, which gives the Penguins a significant advantage.

X-factors

Phillip Danault

Danault is easily the Canadiens' most unheralded player. His point totals over the years may not match other No. 1 centers around the league, but what he brings on both sides of the puck is extremely valuable. As the team's top center, he will be tasked with containing either Crosby or Malkin for the majority of the time he's on the ice.

The Canadiens' top line consists of Tomas Tatar, Brendan Gallagher, and Danault, who rank first, second, and third in the league, respectively, in Corsi For percentage. That is largely due to Danault's elite defensive skills, and the stat is even more impressive considering that Danault begins 54.12% of his shifts in the defensive zone.

Whether the Canadiens can shut down the Penguins to some extent depends in significant part on Danault.

Jake Guentzel

Guentzel missed a good chunk of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery in December. Considering he hasn't played a hockey game in over six months, his game could have a bit of rust - but at this point, many players are in the same boat.

He is the Penguins' leading goal-scorer (60) over the past two regular seasons and the leading goal-scorer (24) in the playoffs over the past three seasons. If he can find his game quickly during the qualifying series, the Penguins will be that much harder to beat.

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