Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – Due to COVID-19 concerns with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Buffalo Sabres' games on Monday and Thursday have been postponed.
Since the NHL has shut down the Blue Jackets' season through the holiday break, the Sabres will next play on Monday, Dec. 27 at home against the New York Islanders.
Columbus didn’t really have any problems until Sunday morning when Boone Jenner, Jack Roslovic and Gabriel Carlsson went into the NHL's COVID-19 Protocols. The team canceled practice, and also canceled Monday’s morning skate in Columbus.
The team didn’t travel to Buffalo on Sunday, so they could test at home on Monday morning.
Alex Tuch was hoping to make his Sabres debut on Monday, but he will have to wait until next week.
Late Monday afternoon, the Sabres announced that forward Vinnie Hinostroza was placed in the NHL's COVID-19 Protocol.
Hinostroza joins a growing list of players around the NHL to be placed in COVID-19 Protocols over the last several days. More than 100 players have already entered the league's protocols, which has caused nine teams to shut down their seasons through Dec. 26.
Here is the official release from the NHL:
"The National Hockey League announced today that, due to concern with the number of positive cases within the last several days as well concern for continued COVID spread, the Columbus Blue Jackets’ games will be postponed at least through the scheduled completion of the League’s Holiday Break in the schedule on Dec. 26. Additionally, the Montreal Canadiens will pause team activities at least through Dec. 26. The decision was made by the NHL’s, the NHLPA’s and the Club medical groups.
"A decision on when each team’s training facilities will re-open will be made by the League and the NHLPA in the coming days. The League is in the process of reviewing and revising the regular season schedule.
"The Blue Jackets were scheduled to play tonight at Buffalo and Thursday at home vs. Buffalo, while the Canadiens’ remaining scheduled games before the Holiday Break, tonight at NY Islanders, Dec. 22 at NY Rangers and Dec. 23 at New Jersey, had been postponed previously.
"The Blue Jackets and Canadiens have followed, and will continue to follow, all recommended guidelines aimed at protecting the health and safety of their Players, staff and community at large as set by the NHL, local, state/provincial and federal agencies."
