from Andrew Gross of Newsday,

The NHL may be down to its final two.

The league halted play on March 12 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and myriad options have been considered since about how play might resume if health and governmental officials give the green light.

But a source told Newsday on Saturday that the return-to-play scenarios have been narrowed to two and that the timing of when games can resume — if they do — likely will determine which format is used.

The first scenario includes 24 teams. Under this plan, the top four teams would play for playoff seeding and the bottom teams would have postseason play-in games.

The second plan would include only 16 teams heading straight into the playoffs, with no regular-season games salvaged.

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