The Boston Bruins’ next two games have been postponed because of four players entering NHL COVID-19 protocol.
The Bruins were scheduled to play at the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday and at home against the New York Islanders on Tuesday. No makeup dates have been announced.
Forwards Jake DeBrusk, David Krejci, David Pastrnak and Craig Smith were added to protocol Friday, one day after the Bruins canceled practice because forward Sean Kuraly was added to protocol. The Bruins defeated the Sabres 4-1 on Thursday.
It is expected that Boston will be able to open its facilities on Wednesday, pending test results. They are scheduled to host the Islanders on Thursday (7 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN, NESN, MSG+2, NHL.TV).
Boston had two players besides Kuraly miss games in protocol in the past two weeks. DeBrusk did not play in a 4-0 loss to the New York Rangers on March 13, and forward Charlie Coyle missed a 2-1 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals on March 3.
Buffalo had six games postponed and its facilities closed because of protocol from Feb. 2-13, and had nine players on the protocol list during that span.
The Sabres canceled practice Thursday because a staffer entered protocol, but practiced Friday.
“We don’t want to get shut down again,” coach Don Granato told the Sabres website. “That was not fun to have to quarantine and go through. I mean, we’re just hoping that it didn’t transmit to any of us. But we’re just kind of taking it day by day right now.”
The Sabres are next scheduled to visit the New York Rangers on Monday (7 p.m. ET; MSG, MSG-B, NHL.TV).
“We don’t have a lot of information yet, so that still goes through your mind,” Granato said. “It puts you in a wait-and-see and nobody likes that. It is challenging.”
There have been 42 games postponed since the NHL season began Jan. 13, including 37 because of protocol. Five games have been postponed because of weather-related issues.