NHL, players association approve return-to-play agreement; playoff first-round schedule set

It’s a sign of optimism hockey fans have been waiting for for four months.

The NHL and the NHLPA on Friday approved the Return-to-Play and a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, paving the way for the hockey playoffs to begin.

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Training camp is expected to begin on Monday for the Penguins at the UPMC Lemieux Complex in Cranberry. Fans will not be permitted to attend.

The Penguins will begin their journey to the Stanley Cup in Toronto, where the Eastern Conference will play through a play-in “qualifying” round, conference quarterfinals and conference semi-finals.

The conference finals and the Stanley Cup Final will be held in Edmonton, which is the site of the Western Conference hub.

The broadcast schedule and game times have not been released, but the Penguins know they will be facing the Montreal Canadiens in a five-game series, and the first dates have been set.

• Game 1: August 1
• Game 2: August 3
• Game 3: August 5
• Game 4 (if needed): August 7
• Game 5 (if needed): August 8

Eastern Conference game times will be either Noon, 4 p.m. or 8 p.m.

Here is the NHL’s full playoff schedule (for the qualifying round):

For more details on the Return to Play agreement, click here.

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