Golden Knights, Stars players kneel during anthems at Qualifiers

Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey LeagueBienvenue à LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockeyДобро пожаловать на NHL.com, официальный сайт Национальной хоккейной лигиTervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiinVälkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sidaVítejte na NHL.com, oficiálních stránkách National Hockey LeagueVitajte na NHL.com, oficiálnych stránkach National Hockey LeagueWillkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey LeagueBienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey LeagueRyan Reaves, Robin Lehner, Tyler Seguin and Jason Dickinson kneel during both anthems to bring awareness to racial injustice in both countriesRyan Reaves, Robin Lehner, Tyler Seguin and Jason Dickinson knelt during the U.S. and Canadian national anthems prior to the Vegas Golden Knights' 5-3 win against the Dallas Stars in a round-robin game in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Monday.Reaves, a Golden Knights forward, Lehner, their goalie, and Dickinson and Seguin, both Stars forwards, were in a row on the same blue line. I wouldn't be alone doing it to support the cause and support my teammates."Video: Reaves, Lehner speak about kneeling during anthemReaves, Lehner, Seguin and Dickinson join Matt Dumba as the players who have knelt during the anthem or anthems prior to games in Edmonton, the Western Conference hub city for the Cup Qualifiers.Dumba, a defenseman for the Minnesota Wild, knelt during the U.S. national anthem prior to Chicago Blackhawks' 6-4 win against the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place on Saturday. Prior to kneeling, Dumba gave a speech vowing the NHL and Hockey Diversity Alliance will stand up for justice and against racism.Dumba also raised his fist in the air during the U.S. and Canadian national anthems prior to the Wild's 3-0 win against the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday."I definitely want to start by saying in no way am I trying to disrespect the flag or people who fought for this country," Reaves said. I think it's time for whites to step into battle with our brothers and sisters and make some change, stop just talking about it and actually do something."Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said Reaves and Lehner approached him, president of hockey operations George McPhee and general manager Kelly McCrimmon about their decision to kneel in the 48 hours leading up to the game."Nothing but full support for their right to do that," DeBoer said.Lehner said he was not upset that other players didn't join."Absolutely not," he said. Change.," "Eracism.," and "End Racism."Several teams also stood together on the blue lines during exhibition games to show their support for unity and racial equality.NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, in a message to fans on NHL.com, said the killing of George Floyd, a Black man who died while in custody of the Minneapolis police on May 25, and the "ensuing demand for justice and equality that inspiringly swept our countries, required us to accept that what we have done to this point isn't enough.""So we must and will do more and be better to make our game a welcoming place for everyone," Bettman said.