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NHL wants arenas to do ‘better job’ avoiding bad ice

Washington Capitals v Philadelphia Flyers - Game Three

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 18: The ice crew cleans up bracelets thrown on the ice by Philadelphia Flyers fans in the third period against the Washington Capitals in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on April 18, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The Washington Capitals defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 6-1. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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From a postponed game in Carolina to a lengthy delay in Pittsburgh, it has not been a banner season for NHL ice.

Add to the equation all the complaints we’ve been hearing from players about poor surfaces, and it was no surprise that the NHL brought in its resident ice guru, Dan Craig, to speak during the Board of Governors meeting this past weekend in Los Angeles.

It was a message to the owners -- let’s make sure the ice crews are on top of their games.

“We want to make sure ice conditions are good for a competitive game, and most importantly we want to make sure they’re safe for the players,” said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. “Over time, when a player has perhaps a sub-par game, you hear, ‘Oh, the ice was terrible.’ Well, it’s the same for both teams. We’re more concerned with fundamental breakdowns: a hole in the ice where the ice went soft, where the system breaks down.”

Bettman added, “Let’s not get complacent. Because we generally don’t have ice problems, and maybe it was a full moon, maybe it was a coincidence, maybe it was bad luck, but we had a few building issues in a very short period of time. Our goal is to do better and to have our buildings do better.”

Of course, the most complaints we’ve heard about poor ice conditions have come out of Brooklyn, where Bettman conceded there may be a “fundamental” issue with the ice-making system. That may not be a problem for much longer, as the Isles and Barclays Center appear headed for divorce.

Related: Isles can leave Barclays Center after three (or four) seasons