Roughly 15% of the league’s players are in virus protocol.
More than a quarter of NHL teams have been shut down through at least the weekend after the Columbus Blue Jackets, Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators paused all activities Monday because of several positive COVID-19 test results among players. The Blue Jackets had games set for Monday night at Buffalo and Thursday at home against the Sabres rescheduled, and the NHL postponed the New Jersey Devils’ game at the Pittsburgh Penguins set for Tuesday, bringing the total to 43 across the league this season. The league said Columbus was shut down because of “concern with the number of positive cases within the last several days as well concern for continued COVID spread.” A total of 10 teams have closed practice facilities through the Christmas break, with the Blue Jackets, Canadiens, Oilers and Senators making the move Monday. The Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators and Toronto Maple Leafs are also on that last, and the Calgary Flames just reopened to players, coaches and staff not in protocol.
