Stanley Cup Final Game 5: ‘Zero chance’ Game 5 will be postponed due to Tropical Storm Elsa

The NHL isn’t intending to reschedule Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final in Tampa on Wednesday night notwithstanding the approaching appearance of Tropical Storm Elsa.

With Tropical Storm Elsa bearing down on Tampa, there are no current intends to postpone Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final scheduled for Wednesday night, various sources tell ESPN.

There’s “zero chance” the game would be deferred dependent on the storm’s present trajectory, an NHL source revealed to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski. Estimates are calling for the most exceedingly terrible of the storm to end by Wednesday afternoon.

On Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning for part of Florida’s Gulf Coast with winds heightening. The entirety of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, and other NHL personnel have effectively landed securely in the area.

Starting at 2 p.m. local time, the National Hurricane Center had issued a hurricane warning for a segment of the Florida Gulf Coast as Elsa’s winds escalated. By Tuesday afternoon, the Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens, and NHL staff had all shown up from Montreal, where the Canadiens won Game 4 to stay away from a sweep and send the series back to Tampa.

Tampa International Airport reported that it was suspending activities at 5 p.m., intending to resume on Wednesday morning “after a storm assessment.”

Estimates demonstrate the most noticeably awful of the storm will be over by Wednesday afternoon. An NHL source said there was “zero chance” the game would be delayed dependent on that forecast, excepting something unforeseen happening to Amalie Arena, for example.

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly told the Associated Press: “[We] will continue to monitor and make a call when we have to. We do have an amount of flexibility.”

The storm has made events outside the arena challenging for Game 5 of the series. The group may need to cancel a sold-out viewing party outside of the arena, albeit that call will be made on Wednesday. The NHL effectively canceled a musical act it had planned for an outdoor event before Game 5.

With a 3-1 series lead, the Tampa Bay Lightning get an opportunity to win the Stanley Cup on home ice after winning last season’s in the Edmonton “bubble.”

Tampa International Airport shut down at 5 p.m. ET and expected to return Wednesday morning in the wake of evaluating the conditions.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the league would watch the circumstance.

“(We) will continue to monitor and make a call when we have to,” Daly said Tuesday, according to The Associated Press’ Stephen Whyno. “We do have an amount of flexibility.”

Game 5 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET Wednesday. The Tampa Bay Lightning lead the series 3-1 and can win the Stanley Cup with a triumph.