NHL Hockey Is Back!

(CNN) – The National Hockey League and the NHL Players’ Association struck a tentative agreement early Sunday that may end a more-than-100-day lockout of unionized players, the league said in a statement posted on its website. The new agreement reached in New York still must be approved by both the players and owners, the NHL said. “After a marathon 16-plus hour negotiating session at the Sofitel Hotel that began Saturday afternoon, the sides announced an agreement in principle shortly after 5 a.m. Sunday,” the league said. Some players had a “crucial role in the final stages” of reaching the agreement, the union said. “Players in the room early Sunday for the announcement were: Craig Adams, Chris Campoli, Mathieu Darche, Shane Doan, Andrew Ference, Ron Hainsey, Jamal Mayers and George Parros,” the players association said. The NHL scrapped its preseason and all games through the end of 2012 after the contract expired on September 15 and the two sides were unable to reach an agreement. If the agreement is approved, the door is open to salvage the second half of the season and the Stanley Cup playoffs. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has said any abbreviated regular season should probably have a minimum of 48 games per team 

A 50 game season is basically handing the New York Rangers the Cup, right? Anyone who’s a hockey expert like myself knows that.