The National Hockey League announced Friday that Saturday afternoon's matchup between the Buffalo Sabres and the Boston Bruins has been postponed. This comes after four more Bruins players entered the NHL's COVID-19 Protocols on Friday, upping their overall list to five.
No make up date has been announced yet for Saturday's game.
Both the Sabres and Bruins were forced to cancel their morning skates on Thursday after having members of each organization enter the NHL's COVID-19 Protocols. The Sabres had a team staff member enter the league's protocols, while Boston had their first player go into the league's protocols.
Despite both teams having people enter COVID-19 protocols before the game, NHL doctors decided that Thursday's game would be played as scheduled at KeyBank Center. The Bruins ended up beating the Sabres, 4-1, handing Buffalo a 13th-straight loss in the process.
In addition to Saturday's contest being postponed, the Bruins will also not play their scheduled Tuesday matchup with the New York Islanders as a result of their potential COVID-19 outbreak.
As for the Sabres, the team has already been forced to pause its 2020-21 season after a COVID-19 outbreak swept through the organization back in early February. During that time, nine players and other staff members either tested positive for the virus, or were deemed as close contacts of those who did test positive. Among the staff members who did test positive for COVID-19 was former head coach Ralph Krueger, who was relieved of his duties on Wednesday.
Sabres reporter John Vogl reports that the four Boston that have entered the NHL's COVID-19 Protocols have been deemed as close contacts. However, Vogl also says the Sabres are, once again, upset they were given the ok to play after an opposing team had a player enter COVID-19 protocols, followed by more players from that team entering protocols.
Buffalo is next scheduled to play on the road in New York against the Rangers on Monday. Faceoff at Madison Square Garden is set for 7 p.m. ET on the radio home of the Sabres - WGR Sports Radio 550.