Oilers, Leafs among NHL teams opting to bus over the border to avoid COVID-19 testing

NHL teams are taking different approaches to crossing the U.S.-Canada border during the first round of the playoffs with the U.S. still requiring a negative COVID-19 test for all passengers arriving on international flights.

The Edmonton Oilers and the Toronto Maple Leafs took their time getting to their U.S. destinations ahead of Game 3 in their first-round playoff series.

Instead of taking a charter flight directly to California, the Oilers opted to fly to Vancouver after their Game 2 win on Wednesday, spend the night in a hotel, then bus over the border on Thursday morning before flying from Bellingham, Wash., to California.

Following their Game 2 loss in Toronto, the Leafs also crossed into the U.S. by bus and flew out of Buffalo, N.Y., on Thursday.

The unique journeys allowed both teams to avoid COVID-19 testing. Current restrictions require people entering the States via air to provide a negative COVID-19 test, something not required at a land border crossing.

Asked about the decision, Toronto forward Jason Spezza responded with a laugh.

"That's above my pay grade," the 38-year-old said. "I get on the bus when they tell me to get on the bus. I get on the plane when they tell me to get on the plane.

"As long as it all leads to the arena, I'm pretty happy."

The long way was the preferred way for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames, which all opted to test and fly direct when their respective series shifted from Canada to the U.S. late this week.

"We didn't cross the border by bus," Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper said Friday before Game 3 against Toronto. "Everybody passed the tests."

Choose your own travel adventure has become the latest pandemic wrinkle to the fight for the