New COVID protocols in place for NHL
COVID, COVID, go away. The athletes just want to continue to play.
After nearly two years of dealing with this unrelenting virus, that's what many are thinking as winter sets in across North America.
The sports world is doing its best to keep games from being canceled and to make sure stadiums remain full.
After a spate of cases forced the cancellation of six NHL games (four involving the Calgary Flames), the league announced Wednesday that enhanced protocols would go into effect. There will be restrictions on dining while on the road, masking and distancing in club facilities, and daily testing except on days off.
The rules will be in effect until at least January 7.
"Whatever helps," said Blackhawks forward Alex DeBrincat after a 5-4 OT victory over Washington on Wednesday. "It's tough when it's going around like wildfire right now. A lot of teams have a lot of guys in protocol, so whatever we can do to keep us safe. ...
"We just like playing hockey so we want to keep it that way."
The Hawks-Flames game Monday was one of the six canceled games. The Flames have 18 players and three coaches in COVID protocol.
Other teams that have been hit hard include Nashville (six players and the entire coaching staff is in the protocol), Carolina (six players, including leading scorers Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov), Boston (six players, including Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand), Florida (seven players) and the Islanders (Mathew Brazal).
The Hawks are scheduled to play the Predators on Friday at the United Center. Nashville will likely be without leading scorer Mikael Granlund (27 points), Ryan Johansen (24 points) and Philip Tomasino (5 goals). The other three players have appeared in just nine games combined.
One would think the game might be canceled, but Nashville hosted Colorado on Thursday with its depleted lineup.
Carolina called up three players from the Chicago Wolves for its game against Detroit on Thursday. They were Wolves captain Andrew Poturalski, who leads the AHL with 34 points, Winnetka's Jack Drury and Stefan Noesen.
The one thing nobody wants to see is empty stadiums or stadiums reduced to 10, 20 or 30% capacity. Hopefully it doesn't come to that, but Toronto and Ottawa will have crowds capped at 50% starting Saturday.
"Well, it would (stink) for sure," said Hawks defenseman Calvin de Haan. "When we were playing without fans the previous season it felt like you were playing competitive shinny. ... (Now), the atmosphere, whether you're home or away, gets the blood pumping a little bit.
"We definitely have home ice (advantage). The United Center's one of the toughest buildings to play in. ... (It would be) disappointing, but you've got to roll with the punches at this point."
The Hawks are now 11-15-2 overall and 10-6-0 under interim coach Derek King. They haven't lost two in a row since Jeremy Colliton was fired, but they also haven't won two in a row in a month.
After hosting Nashville, the Hawks play at Dallas on Saturday then play Florida and Dallas at the United Center before the Christmas break.