Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, third from left, celebrates his second goal of the game with center Pius Suter (24), defenseman Gustav Lindstrom and center Vladislav Namestnikov (92), while New Jersey Devils defenseman Ty Smith (24) during the second Period of an NHL hockey game on Saturday, December 18, 2021, in Detroit.
FILE – In this February 15, 2020 file photo, fans pose under the NHL League logo on a display outside Falcon Stadium prior to an NHL Stadium Series outdoor hockey game between the Los Angeles Kings and Colorado Avalanche at the Air Force Academy, Colo. The NHL announced on Friday, December 17, 2021 that it would postpone all games for the Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers to at least next weekend as COVID-19 test scores across the league worsen.
AP
NEW YORK (AP) – The NHL and its players’ association took temporary crackdown on teams crossing the Canadian border on Sunday, suspending operations of a sixth team in hopes of saving the season as COVID-19 outbreaks settle in the league spread.
The Detroit Red Wings were added to the list of teams to cease operations, joining the Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, Calgary Flames, Nashville Predators, and Boston Bruins. Detroit’s home game against Colorado on Monday had previously been postponed and will not take place as planned, and the Red Wings’ trip to Minnesota for Thursday’s game has been canceled.
Canadian teams will not play against US-based teams Monday through Thursday, with these postponed games expected to be postponed. The league said in a press release that the decision was made in part because of the “fluid nature of federal travel restrictions.”
A total of 27 games have been postponed until Saturday and 12 more will be postponed to another date until Thursday. About 10% of the 700+ players were in the league’s virus log on Saturday.
“We will continue to play the regular 2021-22 season schedule,” said the NHL and NHLPA in a joint statement on Sunday. “Although there has been an increase in positive COVID test results from players, coaches and hockey staff recently, there have been a small number of positive cases that have resulted in worrying symptoms or serious illness.”
