LIVE BLOG: Post-Christmas NHL COVID-19 protocol update
The NHL is scheduled to resume on Tuesday after a Christmas break that was extended due to an increase in positive COVID-19 cases.
As Frank Seravalli reported over the weekend, the NHL has altered some rules in order to help combat rising positive tests in the wake of the Omicron variant. Teams will now be allowed a Taxi Squad and emergency recalls in order to make navigating the salary cap easier.
We’ll update this post as more COVID-related news comes in.
UPDATE: 3:00 PM EST
The NHL has announced that three games Central Division have been postponed. The Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche were scheduled to play on Wednesday Dec 29 and Friday Dec 31 but those games have been postponed. Also, Wednesday’s game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Winnipeg Jets will be played at a later date.
SCHEDULE UPDATE: @NHL postpones three games. https://t.co/F13gTfpOtZ pic.twitter.com/nToE3KsGuw
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 27, 2021
The Montreal Canadiens are scheduled to face the Lightning in Tampa Bay on Tuesday and will be shorthanded if the game goes on as planned. Seravalli reported that the Habs have nine regulars in COVID protocol.
#Habs announce they’re down 9 regulars due to Covid-19 protocol but they’re traveling to Tampa Bay today in preparation for tomorrow’s game.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) December 27, 2021
Allen, Chiarot, Petry, Edmundson, Wideman, Toffoli, Hoffman, Lehkonen and Dauphin are the 9 guys out.
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced that six different players have been placed in protocol, though the team’s next game isn’t until December 31 against the Ottawa Senators.
The following players have been added to the NHL’s COVID-19 Protocol List:
• Teddy Blueger
• Tristan Jarry
• John Marino
• Mike Matheson
• Evan Rodrigues
• Dominik Simon
Jake Guentzel (non-COVID illness) will not practice today as well.— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) December 27, 2021
The New York Rangers have three players in protocol. Their next game is on December 29 in Florida against the Panthers.
UPDATE: Three #NYR are in Covid protocol:
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 27, 2021
Alexandar Georgiev
Ryan Lindgren
Jarred Tinordi
Patrik Nemeth has cleared and will practice today.
The Washington Capitals are scheduled to play on Wednesday but they currently have six players unavailable due to positive COVID-19 tests.
The following #Caps players are unavailable due to the NHL's COVID-19 protocol: Daniel Sprong (12/21), Justin Schultz (12/21), Nick Jensen (12/23), Vitek Vanecek (12/24), Dennis Cholowski (12/24), Martin Fehervary (12/24).
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 27, 2021