Flames games postponed through Dec. 23 due to COVID-19 concerns

The Calgary Flames had two more games postponed by the NHL on Friday due to COVID-19 concerns.

The Flames were scheduled to host the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday and the Seattle Kraken on Thursday. Their next scheduled game is at home against the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 27.
The Flames, who have 19 players, three coaches and nine support staff members in NHL COVID-19 protocol, have had six games postponed. They have not played since a 4-2 home loss to the Boston Bruins on Dec. 11. Makeup days will be announced at a later date.
General manager Brad Treliving said Friday he's not sure if the Flames will be able to skate before Dec. 27.
"What we've got is a little list of things that we know and then there's the big to-do list and open items, we're calling it," Treliving said. "That's on the open items list. So right now we've got a pretty good 3-on-3 team remaining unaffected by this. We've got different guys who have gone in at different times and they'll be coming out at different times so that's to be determined over the next day or so."
Forward Mikael Backlund and a member of the Flames support staff entered COVID-19 protocol Friday, one day after forward Dillon Dube and defenseman Oliver Kylington as well as one support staff member were added to protocol.
On Wednesday, forwards Byron Froese, Johnny Gaudreau, Trevor Lewis and Tyler Pitlick, defensemen Rasmus Andersson and Erik Gudbranson and goalie Jacob Markstrom were placed in protocol, along with coach Darryl Sutter, assistants Ryan Huska and Kirk Muller and seven support staff members.
Forwards Milan Lucic and Sean Monahan, and defenseman Noah Hanifin went into protocol Tuesday, one day after forwards Elias Lindholm, Andrew Mangiapane, Brad Richardson and Adam Ruzicka, defensemen Chris Tanev and Nikita Zadorov, and a member of the training staff entered. The NHL announced the Flames had their next three games postponed Monday, with a fourth added Wednesday.
The NHL on Monday also cited a continued spread and the likelihood of additional positive cases in the coming days. The Flames were scheduled to play at the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 13 and Nashville Predators on Dec. 14, host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 16 and the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.
Dr. Ian Auld, the Flames team doctor, said three of the cases are the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
"My anticipation is if there's three, there's more if not all," Auld said. "But that information should be leaking in over the next 48-72 hours. What I have seen -- I've been helping manage this problem now for 18 months or so in a hockey-related environment -- and we've had cases before and we've had close contacts before.
"I've never seen transmission on this level, which I think is completely in keeping with what we're seeing across the world, originating in South Africa. It doesn't require a huge window to move from person to person."
Auld said the majority of the Calgary's cases have been asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic.
"We do have a few people, probably anywhere from four to six, and a lot of cases are in evolution so that may change, that have had what I would call moderate symptoms, so chills, fevers, fatigue, but quite quick, turning the corner within 36, certainly 48 hours," Auld said. "So overwhelmingly we've seen mild disease, which is reassuring for hopefully the world but certainly us as a group."
Calgary's training facilities are closed for players until further notice.
Trelviing said the Flames have remained upbeat during the pause in their season.
"We did a zoom call last night. Our group's doing well. No. 1, you're concerned about the players and we have families involved in this. I know everybody talks about the athletes and the staff, which is important. Equally important is family members. So we just want to make sure they're all safe. That's Priority 1," Treliving said. "But they're doing well. You never want to have your season interrupted. We're having a good year. They're eager to get back and we're looking at this, No. 1, let's keep the medical situation paramount and front of mind but competitively, they want to get back. "
Treliving said on Dec. 14 the Flames players were tested the morning of Dec. 11 in advance of their planned flight to Chicago the next day. When three positive tests came back by early Sunday, the entire team was tested again at the airport later that day before its scheduled departure.
The flight was delayed pending results. Treliving said Calgary contemplated flying to Chicago early Monday, but the three original positive tests were confirmed and three other positive tests came back late Sunday, prompting the postponements.
The NHL also announced Friday the Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers would be shut down through the holiday break. They each are scheduled to play next on Dec. 27, Colorado at the Vegas Golden Knights and the Panthers at the Carolina Hurricanes.
The NHL announced Saturday the Boston Bruins and Predators would also be shut down through Dec. 26. They each are scheduled to play next on Dec. 27, Boston against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville at the Dallas Stars.
Additionally, due to a number of Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks players entering COVID-19 protocol, three games involving those teams were also postponed: the Toronto at Vancouver game Saturday, the Arizona Coyotes at Canucks game Sunday and the Maple Leafs at Kraken game Sunday.
A decision on when each team's training facilities will re-open will be made by the League and the NHL Players' Association in the coming days. The NHL is in the process of reviewing and revising all three teams' regular season schedules.
The NHL has postponed 29 games this season because of COVID-19 concerns. There were 55 games postponed last season; all were made up as part of a 56-game schedule.
"They're trying to look at this as a bump in the road," Treliving said. "We're going to get through it, we're going to get on the other side of it and get going here. So nobody likes being holed up but all things considered, the group's doing well."
NHL.com staff writers Tracey Myers and Tim Campbell contributed to this report