The NHL is extending the delay for the Buffalo Sabers, Minnesota Wild, and New Jersey Devils as those teams recover from COVID-19 outbreaks among players.
The league announced on Monday that there are two additional Sabers games (Feb. 11 and Feb. 13 against the Capitals); three more Devils games (February 11 and February 13 vs. the Flyers, and February 15 vs. the Bruins) and two more Wild games (February 11 vs. the Blues and February 13 vs. the Kings) have been postponed because of COVID-19 protocols.
The Sabers was originally postponed until at least February 8th, the Wild until at least Tuesday and the Devils until at least last Saturday. A decision regarding the resumption of practice and play by the three teams will be made by medical groups from the NHL, NHLPA and teams in the coming days.
According to Sunday’s protocol-related absences report in COVID-19’s league, the Sabers had nine players on the list, while the Devils had 16 players and the Wild had nine.
The Avalanche, which had three players on the list, have also put their games on hold until at least Thursday.
Wild general manager Bill Guerin said there was a plan to return his team to the ice, but that additional positive cases meant more time away from the rink.
“I think we’re better off just taking the extra time and making sure our boys are healthy here. If we have to wait a few more days, we have to wait a few more days,” he said Monday. “I don’t think this is something that we actually want to put a round pin in a square hole. Let’s just wait and have patience and do the right thing and it will work out in the end.”
The NHL has delayed 33 games since the season began on January 13. There are still 15 games to be rescheduled.