VANCOUVER — The NHL's Canadian-based North Division has been impacted by COVID-19 for the second time in less than two weeks.
The league postponed Wednesday night's game between the Canucks and Flames after a second Vancouver player and a member of the team's coaching staff entered COVID-19 protocol.
Canucks forward Adam Gaudette, who was pulled from Tuesday's practice following a positive test result, was added to the NHL's protocol list that afternoon.
Vancouver and Calgary were preparing as if Wednesday's game would still go ahead — both teams held morning skates and virtual media availabilities at Rogers Arena — but the league announced its decision in a press release roughly 90 minutes before puck drop.
The NHL, which said a further update would be provided Thursday, added the call to postpone was made by medical personnel from the league, NHL Players' Association and Canucks.
A player on the COVID-19 protocol list has not necessarily tested positive.
The Montreal Canadiens had four games postponed — the first contests scratched in the North this season — last week when forwards Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Joel Armia were added to the protocol list.
Those postponements, which included the shuttering of the Canadiens' practice facility, forced the rescheduling of nine games.
Montreal general manager Marc Bergevin said at the time one of his players tested positive for a coronavirus variant, which precipitated the shutdown. Kotkaniemi was removed from protocol Tuesday when the Canadiens returned to the ice against the Edmonton Oilers, but Armia remains on the list.
Canucks head coach Travis Green would not say following Wednesday's morning skate if Gaudette had tested positive for a variant.
"I'm not going to get into personal stuff with Adam Gaudette," he said. "We're preparing to play, and planning to do so."
Green added his club felt they were in the clear with just one positive test following some nervous hours.
"(Tuesday) when you get the news, you're always wondering about it," he said. "Last night we had a pretty good idea we were good to go this morning.
"We've tried to just stay focused on that task, and let the people that advise us on the protocols let us know if there's anything else changing."
The NHL's truncated 56-game schedule has now seen 42 contests postponed — with the first 37 coming in the three U.S.-based divisions — because of COVID-19.
The league's protocols require players and staff to be tested daily. Any time an individual's initial test comes back positive, the lab does a second test on the initial sample.
If the second test is negative, a second sample is collected. But if that sample returns a positive result, it's considered to be a "confirmed positive.''
The league requires individuals with positive tests to self isolate for 10 days, and for close contacts to self isolate for two weeks.
The 24-year-old Gaudette has seven points (three goals, four assists) in 33 games this season. The Canucks were also missing winger Jake Virtanen at Tuesday's practice, who Green said "wasn't feeling well so he stayed home."
Vancouver and Calgary are tied for fifth in the division with identical 16-18-3 records, five points back of Montreal for the fourth and final playoff spot, although Montreal has a big advantage with five games in hand.
The Flames are scheduled to visit the Edmonton Oilers on Friday before opening a four-game homestand against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Canucks beginning Sunday.
The Canucks were coming off a six-day break heading into Wednesday before getting ready to embark on a seven-game road trip set to begin Saturday in Edmonton.
That's all now very much up in the air.
Vancouver forward J.T. Miller and defenceman Jordie Benn missed multiple games in January after being placed into protocol.
"It's not ideal," Miller said Wednesday morning. "Everybody's trying to do the right things to not have this situation happen.
"Hopefully we can minimize the damage here, and hopefully Gauds isn't feeling too poorly."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 31, 2021.
The Canadian Press
