ItB次元官网网址檚 different, being inside the B次元官网网址渂ubbleB次元官网网址� for the National Hockey League playoffs, Kim Dillabaugh admits, but heB次元官网网址檚 impressed with how well the situation has been structured.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檝e done a pretty good job of coordinating as much as they can,B次元官网网址� said the Duncan-born goalie coach for the Philadelphia Flyers. B次元官网网址淚t could be a lot worse. No complaints.

B次元官网网址淥bviously youB次元官网网址檙e confined to certain areas. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what they have to do to make it work.B次元官网网址�

The NHLB次元官网网址檚 bubble format, which has proven extremely successful so far, without a single positive test for COVID-19, restricts teams to their hotels and one arena in each hub city. Playing in Toronto, the Flyers also have access to BMO Field for outdoor training purposes.

Dillabaugh grew up in the Cowichan Valley before embarking on a major junior hockey career. He later coached with the Western Hockey LeagueB次元官网网址檚 Kelowna Rockets and worked in goaltender development for the Los Angeles Kings before becoming the FlyerB次元官网网址檚 full-time goalie coach in 2015.

This is DillabaughB次元官网网址檚 third trip to the playoffs with the Flyers. The team earned a bye through the qualifying round by virtue of having the fourth-best regular-season record in the Eastern Conference, then earned the top seed in the first round by sweeping three games in a round robin between the top four teams in the conference over the first week of August.

The Flyers arrived in Toronto and entered the bubble on July 26, playing their first exhibition game on July 28 and starting round-robin play on Aug. 1. DillabaughB次元官网网址檚 team has been among the most successful in the early going. The FlyersB次元官网网址� next test will be a best-of-seven series against the Montreal Canadiens starting on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

B次元官网网址淵ou never know what to expect coming off a lengthy layoff when not a lot of guys have had access to ice or have been limited in what theyB次元官网网址檝e had in terms of equipment for training,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut they got back in sync and got off to a great start. Hopefully they can build off that as we get ready for Montreal.B次元官网网址�

Philadelphia goalies Carter Hart and Brian Elliott have been big parts of the teamB次元官网网址檚 early success. They split work in the exhibition game, a 3-2 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, and combined to stop 73 of 76 saves in the three round-robin wins.

B次元官网网址淥bviously the guys in front have done a good job of limiting the quality of work theyB次元官网网址檝e seen,B次元官网网址� Dillabaugh said. B次元官网网址淭he goal is obviously to use this as a jumping point for hopefully a long playoff run.B次元官网网址�

For Dillabaugh, being in the bubble means being away from his family: his wife Bonnie, also from Duncan, and his nine-year-old-daughter and three-year-old son.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 tough,B次元官网网址� he acknowledged. B次元官网网址淎ny time youB次元官网网址檙e away from your family for an extended period of time, itB次元官网网址檚 challenging for sure.B次元官网网址�

It helps to be able to connect via FaceTime every day.

B次元官网网址淭hey understand itB次元官网网址檚 a unique situation, a unique time,B次元官网网址� Dillabaugh said. B次元官网网址淎nd weB次元官网网址檙e making the best of it.B次元官网网址�

The Dillabaughs maximized their time together during the layoff, knowing that they might end up separated for a lengthy period if the NHL season did resume in a bubble. They did consider coming back to the Cowichan Valley, but opted to stay in south New Jersey, where they live during the season.

Holding the playoffs without fans is a unique situation, and Dillabaugh admitted that it does trickle into the sport itself, as the players miss the crowds and the momentum that it brings. Generally, though it is business as usual once the puck drops.

B次元官网网址淭hese are competitive athletes,B次元官网网址� Dillabaugh pointed out. B次元官网网址淭hey want to win; they want to have success. That will continue as teams move through the playoffs and on to their ultimate goal.B次元官网网址�

The closest comparison to the bubble that Dillabaugh can come up with was the 2019 World Championships in Slovakia, which he attended with Team Canada, where teams did share hotels and crossed paths from time to time. As strange as it may be, Dillabaugh remains impressed with what the NHL was able to create.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been in the playoffs before, but this is the first time seeing this,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey had a short time frame to come up with something safe for everybody. That was front and centre, to create an environment where everybody feels safe.B次元官网网址�