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NHL postpones Stanley Cup Playoff games for Thursday, Friday

Four Eastern and Western second round matchups will be played starting Saturday.

By Dave Melton
Colorado Avalanche v Dallas Stars - Game Three Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

About one hour before the Flyers and Islanders were scheduled to start Game 3 of their second-round series Thursday night, the NHL announced it would not be playing Stanley Cup Playoffs games Thursday or Friday.

The decision comes in solidarity with other leagues (NBA, MLB, MLS and WNBA) protesting the recent police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

A joint statement from the NHL and NHLPA read, in part: “After much discussion, NHL players believe that the best course of action would be to take a step back and not play (Thursday’s) and (Friday’s) games as scheduled.”

Read the NHL’s entire statement below:

Along with the Islanders and Flyers, Game 3 between the Golden Knights and Canucks was scheduled for Thursday night. Both series are tied 1-1.

The Lightning-Bruins and Avalanche-Stars series were each set to play Game 4 on Friday. The Lightning and Stars hold 2-1 series leads.