The team was set to play the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night, however, due to COVID-19 Protocols impacting the Bruins organization, the game was postponed by the league on Saturday.
Then, Sunday afternoon the NHL announced that cross-border travel will not take place over the next four days, thus taking Thursday's meeting with Ottawa off the table.
These two postponements come after the team's contest against Nashville that was set for Sunday was also moved to date to be determined. This means that the team will not take to the ice for game action again until at least Monday, December 27, when they are currently scheduled to host the Florida Panthers at PNC Arena.
Albeit disappointing to Caniacs who were looking forward to watch their team play this week, the impromptu break does benefit the team, whose COVID-19 Protocol themselves reached 11 on Monday. Sunday it was announced that forward Stefan Noesen was added and then this morning defenseman Brendan Smith also joined the list. Eight of the aforementioned 11 are skaters, and thus with the team now not playing, they will not have to move forward without them in their lineup, after already having played two games with an irregular cast.
The eight in COVID-19 Protocol at this time and their date of entering are as follows:
• Sebastian Aho - December 13
• Seth Jarvis - December 13
• Ian Cole - December 14
• Steven Lorentz - December 14
• Jordan Staal - December 14
• Andrei Svechnikov - December 14
• Stefan Noesen - December 19
• Brendan Smith - December 20
Two of the remaining three in protocol are team staff members, one being Message Therapist Mike Maresca, who tested positive on December 13. Goaltending Coach Paul Schoenfelder was added to the list on Friday, December 17, one day ahead of the team's meeting with Los Angeles.
Excluding Noesen and Smith, the first six listed skaters from the group would all first be eligible to return for the team's game against Florida, again, that is presently scheduled for one week from today. However, as we saw with Ethan Bear and his return from the protocol list, this does not ensure that they all will be back in the lineup that night. Noesen will be out of action until at least December 29 and Smith until December 30.
As a trickle down from the team now in the midst of a nine-day span without games, the team made four roster moves yesterday, allowing four of the club's recent recalls to return to the Chicago Wolves (AHL).
Jack Drury
,
Josh Leivo, Andrew Poturalski and C.J. Smith
have now all rejoined the Canes top developmental affiliate, who is right now set to skate Wednesday and Thursday of this week against the Cleveland Monsters. The additions are welcomed for the club, as they've won 12 consecutive games dating back to Saturday, November 20.
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