The New York Islanders had their next two upcoming games postponed because up to eight players are currently under the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol, the NHL announced Saturday.
The league said that “the team’s games will be postponed at least through Tuesday, November 30.”
The team’s practice facility will also be closed through at least November 30, according to NHL.com. If players and staff test negative three straight days, they could resume practice Wednesday.
The Islanders were scheduled to play at the New York Rangers on Sunday and at the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday. Rescheduled dates for those games are to be determined.
“You can say it’s unfortunate, but I don’t want to say frustrations can get in the way,” Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said Saturday, according to NHL.com. “Certainly everyone is human, but right now all we can do is take a step back and use these three days and get prepared for our next practice and our next game.”
The announcement comes a day after New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a disaster emergency order for COVID amid rising cases and hospitalizations in the State. According to the order, the transmission rate in the state is higher than it has been since April of last year.
