NHL Return to Play plan announced Tuesday

The sixth-seeded Nashville Predators would play a best-of-five play-in series against the Arizona Coyotes if the latest NHL format is approved. Commissioner Gary Bettman says the league’s restart plan is going straight to a 24-team playoff held in two hub cities in empty arenas. The Players’ Association still must approve the proposal and health and safety issues would also have to be worked out. Bettman says the regular season is effectively over with stats frozen. The NHL is aiming for a late July or early August return.