This news came approximately 24 hours after the team shared that their game
Tuesday night against the Minnesota Wild had been postponed
due to six players and one staff member testing positive for COVID-19 since Monday morning.
There have been several NHL clubs that have had outbreaks this season, some being forced to pause team activities and some playing through with multiple recalls and emergency circumstances. Right now it appears that the Canes are set to be the latter.
Here's what needs to happen in order for tomorrow night's contest to proceed:
Recalls From Chicago (AHL)
It's not quite as easy as it sounds though. The team does not have the cap space to bring up five players from their American Hockey League affiliate to field a full lineup.
Right now the team has seven forwards and six defensemen available and enough room under the long-term injured reserve (LTIR) exception to call up one player. That would leave them with only 14 skaters, four short of a regular lineup. However, rather than having the club play short four players and potentially having a safety issue, the league will have the Canes play short two players, allowing them two emergency exception recalls under provision 50.10(e).
Players recalled under that provision simply don't count against the cap at all, but only players with an AAV under $850k are eligible to be the emergency recall under that rule. And then after Thursday's game, they will be able to recall two more players under that rule, which will give them a full lineup - if nobody else has been injured or gotten sick.
No/Limited Additional Positive Tests
Players and staff will test twice on Thursday before puck drop, first before morning skate and then once more before game time. Morning skate is currently scheduled for 10:30 a.m., as usual.
If all there are additional positive tests, the status of the game may be in question, however, at the moment the show goes on and fans can be in attendance tomorrow night at PNC Arena.
Tickets can be purchased here
.
Fans are encouraged to stay tuned to Hurricanes.com and the team's social media channels for up-to-the-minute information.
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