O'Connor was placed in COVID-19 protocol on December 20th but the team did not announce it until Sunday. The Avalanche provided expected return dates for all of the players still in protocol and put O'Connor on track to miss Wednesday's game vs. the Stars but be back for Friday's rematch.
The Sharks have already been shut down through the Christmas break, so we'll see when they resume play next week. Burns will likely be out until at least next Thursday.
Blackwood will miss Saturday's game in Detroit with a neck injury and is listed as day-to-day. The Devils recently acquired Jon Gillies from the Blues and could make his Devils debut.
Kiviranta missed Tuesday's game vs. the Blues and lands on IR with an upper-body injury. Kiviranta will miss at least the next three games.
With a bunch of Hurricanes forwards in COVID-19 protocol, Drury is set up to make his NHL debut on Thursday. The 2018 second-round pick has scored seven goals with nine assists (16 points) in 23 AHL games this season.
Kiviranta missed Monday's practice and will not play in Tuesday's game vs. St. Louis. Kiviranta is one of three forwards (Roope Hintz & Alexander Radulov) who will not be available for Tuesday's game, so call-ups from the AHL will be needed.
Nelson has missed the last seven games with a lower-body injury that he suffered on November 21st. Even after missing nearly three weeks, Nelson still leads the Islanders with nine goals.
