By 
AUSTIN, Texas — It’s time for the Edmonton Oilers to make the playoffs.
The Oilers were expected to play a game at the new Budweiser Gardens in 2019, but they are still awaiting a decision from the NFL on their bid to host an NHL game.
That’s because of a rule that the NFL has put in place that allows the league to deny an expansion team from playing a home game in a new city if the team is already in a different market.
The league also has rules that allow expansion teams to hold an open practice or scrimmage at the venue.
The Edmonton Oilers were scheduled to play the Winnipeg Jets on Jan. 4 at the Budweiss Arena.
The Oilers have not played a game in Winnipeg since the NHL team moved to Edmonton in 1967.
The NHL had announced that it would expand to 20 teams by 2020.
The new team would be named the Oilers and would begin play in 2019.
The league has a rule to allow for a team to play in a city once it has been established by a team that has been there a year.
The rule was first adopted in 1976, and it’s been used to deny teams from playing games in other cities.
But that rule has not been in place since 2007, according to the NHL’s website.
A spokeswoman for the league said in an email that “the league’s rule to deny a franchise a venue because of expansion would apply only to cities that are established by an expansion franchise or franchise expansion team.”