5 p.m. update: David Pastrnak, David Krejci, Jake DeBrusk and Craig Smith are the four Bruins who have joined Sean Kuraly on the COVID protocol list.
The Bruins have run into their major COVID-related problem. The team and the NHL announced Friday afternoon that its next two games have been postponed as a result of four more players entering the league's COVID-19 protocol.
They were scheduled to play the Sabres Saturday afternoon and the Islanders Tuesday night. The Bruins say they could re-open their facilities on Wednesday if testing goes well between now and then.
Forward Sean Kuraly missed Thursday night's win over the Sabres after entering COVID protocol earlier in the day. He was the third Bruin to enter protocol in the last few weeks, as both Charlie Coyle and Jake DeBrusk missed one game each due to false positives.
In those cases, there were no other issues with any other players. That is obviously not the case this time. The Bruins did not immediately name the additional four players -- they don't have to until the NHL releases its updated COVID list later in the afternoon.
The NHL explains that players can be placed on the COVID-19 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.
