The Canadiens were scheduled to play the Oilers on Wednesday and Friday and the Senators on Sunday at the Bell Centre.

Author of the article:

Stu Cowan  •  Montreal Gazette

Publishing date:

Mar 23, 2021  •  19 minutes ago  •  2 minute read  •  Join the conversation

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The NHL and the Canadiens announced Tuesday evening that all the team’s games have been postponed through Sunday because of COVID-19 protocols.

On Monday afternoon, the Canadiens’ Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Joel Armia were put on the NHL’s COVID Protocol Related Absences list after both players took part in a morning skate at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard. Monday night’s scheduled game against the Edmonton Oilers at the Bell Centre was postponed less than an hour before the puck was supposed to drop.

The Canadiens were scheduled to play the Oilers again on Wednesday and Friday night at the Bell Centre before facing the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night. Those games have now been postponed.

The Canadiens players were all given COVID-19 tests Tuesday morning at the Bell Sports Complex in Brossard and Kotkaniemi and Armia remained the only two players on the NHL’s updated COVID-related list when it was released on Tuesday evening.

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The NHL notes that players can be put on the COVID list for a number of reasons including, among others: “(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol.”

Pending test results in the coming days, the Canadiens are expected to open the Bell Sports Complex practice facility next Monday. As of now, the Canadiens’ next game would be next Tuesday in Ottawa against the Senators.

The decision to postpone the games was made by medical groups for the NHL, the NHLPA and the Canadiens.

The Canadiens are in fourth place in the all-Canadian North Division with a 14-8-9 record and have 25 games remaining in this 56-game regular season.

Because of the condensed schedule, it won’t be easy for the NHL to make up the four games the Canadiens will miss. In April, the Canadiens have 16 games in 30 days on their schedule. Their regular season is slated to end on May 8 with four games in eight days that month for the Canadiens.

scowan@postmedia.com

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