Maybe the hockey gods have something against the Bruins and Sabres playing each other.
After the two teams had a pair of games against each other postponed earlier this season due to Buffalo's COVID-19 outbreak, there are once again COVID-related issues ahead of their scheduled game Thursday night.
First news broke that the Sabres had canceled their morning skate due to a staff member entering COVID protocols. Then the Bruins announced they were also canceling their morning skate due to a Bruins player entering COVID protocols.
It has not yet been revealed which Bruins player it is. They don't have to release that information publicly until the NHL publishes its updated COVID protocol list later in the afternoon.
The NHL explains that players can be placed on the COVID protocol list for the following reasons:
Such “COVID Protocol Related Absences” can be the result of a number of factors 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.
As of 10:20 a.m., there was no word about Thursday's night game being postponed. The game is set to be Buffalo's first with fans in the stands.
Bruins forwards Charlie Coyle and Jake DeBrusk have both missed a game in recent weeks while on the COVID list, but in both cases it turned out to be a false positive.