The Bruins postponed their scheduled game against the Senators at TD Garden last night in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, with no make-up date announced, according to Kevin Paul Dupont of the BOSTON GLOBE. The decision was made around 4:30pm ET, less than two hours after the bombings took place, and players were "informed by management once inside the dressing room." It is possible that the game "won't be rescheduled, provided the outcome has no consequence on the NHL's final standings." But given "how tight the standings are, the odds are in favor of a makeup, possibly Sunday, April 28." Both clubs are "off that day, each of them scheduled to wrap up their seasons that weekend" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/16). SI.com's Allan Muir noted while it is an "insignificant concern at the moment, rescheduling the game won't be easy given the already compacted nature of the NHL calendar." The Bruins had their Feb. 9 game against the Lightning postponed "due to a weather related emergency." That game was rescheduled for April 25 (SI.com, 4/15). In Boston, Stephen Harris writes the reasons the game "couldn’t be played were obvious." If one "crowded sports event could be attacked, there was concern a second ... could also be targeted." Additionally, police, EMTs and "other emergency workers were not available for the Garden." Meanwhile, to "carry on with a game after yesterday’s horror devastated so many would have been unconscionable." Shortly before what would have been gametime last night, police were "stopping every person entering North Station and checking bags and outer coats." Harris: "Imagine trying to clear roughly 18,000 people going into the B’s game" (BOSTON HERALD, 4/16). In Ottawa, Bruce Garrioch writes, "Not playing the game was the right thing to do" (OTTAWA SUN, 4/16).
81 IS ENOUGH: USA TODAY reported the Celtics' home game tonight against the Pacers was cancelled instead of being rescheduled, as tomorrow is the last day of the NBA regular season and the "outcome of the game would make no difference in the playoff standings" for both teams. This marks the first time the league has "had a situation in which any team played fewer than 82 games in the regular season since adopting that schedule" for the '67-68 season (USATODAY.com, 4/15).
RED SOX CAN HELP HEAL: In DC, Victor Morton notes there was "no immediate word" on the Red Sox' official team site concerning the status of "their next home game," which is Friday against the Royals. The Red Sox are "on the road for the next few days" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 4/16). FOXSPORTS.com's Jon Paul Morosi notes the Red Sox "could play a unique role in the development of civic resolve." They are "more closely associated with Patriots' Day than the other pro teams, because their early start is designed to allow fans to exit the ballpark and watch the leading runners pass through Kenmore Square" (FOXSPORTS.com, 4/16). Meanwhile, the Red Sox today announced the Fenway Park Open House scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed (Red Sox).
