PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – As if the six players lost to injury weren't enough for the Pens defense. Current top line defenseman John Marino goes on the NHL COVID-19 list.
The second year defenseman is out with "COVID Protocol Related Absences".
So the league is being intentionally vague with the reason for the designation, here are some of the factors of why Marino is on the list
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 base on a confirmed positive test result and/or
5. Quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol.
Teams don't have to post the status of a player on the list until two hours before faceoff in their next game, which for the Pens is Saturday night.
The Pens scheduled a practice for Thursday, so it would appear this has not spread through the team or affecting others on the squad. The team's schedule this week has been altered due to double-digit positive tests with the Devils which led to cancelled games Tuesday and Thursday.
Marino is the only Pens defenseman to play every game. The 23-year-old played 30:30 in the loss to the Rangers on Monday as part of the top defensive pairing. Marino has one assist on the season and is a minus 3 plus/minus with six penalty minutes. He can and has played on both special team units.
