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NHL shuts down Colorado Avalanche for a week amid COVID surge

NHL shuts down Colorado, Florida for a week amid COVID surge

The Associated Press
An ice resurfacer prepares the rink before an NHL hockey game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Florida Panthers on Thursday in Sunrise, Florida. The Panthers announced that eight players will not play due to the NHL's COVID-19 protocols. (Marta Lavandier/AP)

The NHL announced Friday that it was postponing all games for the Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers through at least next weekend amid worsening COVID-19 test results across the league.

The league, which cited “concern with the number of positive cases within the last two days as well as concern for continued COVID spread in the coming days,” also said the hard-hit Calgary Flames would remain shut down at least through Dec. 23.

The training facilities for all three teams have been closed. In all, Calgary has had six games postponed, the Avalanche four and the Panthers three.



The move was announced hours after Saturday’s game in Montreal between the Canadians and Bruins was postponed. There was no word from the league on the Bruins’ game Sunday at Ottawa, which like Toronto and other cities in Ontario are capping venue capacity at 50%.

The Canadiens beat Philadelphia on Thursday night in a mostly empty Bell Centre because of the rise of COVID-19 cases. Quebec public health officials asked the Canadiens earlier in the day to play without fans in their home arena to help slow the spread of the virus.

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The Bruins were without seven players because of COVID-19 protocol — including stars Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron — for Thursday night’s 3-1 loss at the New York Islanders. They played a man down with 11 forwards and six defensemen.

The rise of COVID-19 cases around the NHL could affect the league’s plans to allow its players to participate in the Winter Olympics in China in February.

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More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Boston Bruins' John Moore, left, battles with Calgary Flames' Elias Lindholm during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday in Calgary, Alberta. (Larry MacDougal/The Canadian Press via AP)
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Samuel Girard (49) falls on Nashville Predators right wing Rocco Grimaldi (23) after chasing the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday in Nashville, Tennessee. (Mark Zaleski/AP)

 


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