Hockey is seeing a surge in popularity and buzz, fed by the 4 Nations tournament, Alex Ovechkin’s stirring run to the NHL career goals record and the Florida Panthers repeating as Stanley Cup champions.

The person spoke after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced border restrictions will stay in effect through June 21. In a separate development, the NHLPAs executive board voted to defer the final payment of players regular season salaries through the end of May. Daly declined to comment on the latest deferment, saying its a decision left entirely to players. The decision on when and how to resume the season is being left with a committee made up of representatives of the NHL and NHL Players Association. There is no set deadline as to when play must resume before the NHL considers canceling the season.

___Bundesliga soccer players will be reminded not to celebrate goals together after Hertha Berlins team shared hugs and high fives over the weekend. ___Players from Spanish soccer club Rayo Vallecano have refused to practice in protest against reduced salaries. Spanish media say the players practiced at home instead of going to the teams training center for the start of group sessions. The Premier League season was suspended in March with Liverpool leading by 25 points with nine games remaining. ___Celtic has been declared Scottish champion after the countrys top soccer league was cut short because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Veteran New Jersey Devils goaltender Cory Schneider said Monday that a growing number of players are concerned the NHL will announce a drop-dead deadline for returning to play as the coronavirus pandemic lingers with summer coming up fast. The 34-year-old Schneider said some Devils are apprehensive because the NHL has said it would take three weeks of training before allowing games. I think thats everyones concern right now, said Schneider, the team's union representative. Schneider said it doesnt make sense to restart the season if the hiatus goes into June and July. Schneider said he wants to play but is concerned about returning for six or seven meaningless games.

Florida Panthers right wing Evgenii Dadonov, at left down on the ice, scores a goal against New Jersey Devils goaltender Cory Schneider on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019. NEWARK, N.J. - Another strong third period provided a satisfying conclusion to a three-game road trip for coach Joel Quenneville and the Florida Panthers. "No one sees that coming," Taylor Hall, one of the Devils' goal scorers, said of the struggle to win a game. For Florida, Brett Connolly scored twice, and Jonathan Huberdeau and Evgenii Dandonov also had goals as the Panthers snapped a three-game losing streak. The Devils expanded the lead to 4-1 early in the second as Butcher and Zacha scored 36 seconds apart.