After a Washington Capitals practice three weeks ago, reporters filed into a private room at MedStar Capitals Iceplex to interview Nicklas Backstrom and other players while practicing safe social distancing. It was March 11, after the NHL temporarily banned reporters from entering locker rooms due to the new coronavirus — but before the league and other sports around the U.S. and the world were suspended as it grew into a pandemic.
On Wednesday, Backstrom instead spoke to reporters from his home via conference call, where he said the best-case scenario for the Capitals and the NHL would be to finish the season, even if that means playing into the summer.