The NHL announced the Blue Jackets' remaining two games before the break, against the Buffalo Sabres on Monday and at the Sabres on Thursday, were postponed. The NHL also announced on Monday the games between the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins, and Arizona Coyotes and Seattle Kraken scheduled for Tuesday have also been postponed because of COVID-19 issues, bringing the total number of games postponed this season to 44.
Montreal's remaining games before the break had already been postponed.
The Edmonton Oilers also announced on Monday their training facilities would be closed through the break.
On Sunday, the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs became the sixth and seventh NHL teams to be shut down through the holiday break, joining the Boston Bruins, Nashville Predators, Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche and Florida Panthers.
The decision to shut down Columbus and Montreal comes one day after the NHL announced that cross-border games will be postponed through the holiday break, a decision made due to the concern about cross-border travel and "the fluid nature of federal travel restrictions."
The NHL also announced that it would continue to play the 2021-22 season.
"Although there has been a recent increase in positive COVID test results among players, coaches and hockey staff, there have been a low number of positive cases that have resulted in concerning symptoms or serious illness," the NHL said in a statement Sunday. "Therefore, the NHLPA's and NHL's medical experts have determined that, with virtually all players and club hockey staff fully vaccinated, the need to temporarily shut down individual teams should continue to be made on a case-by-case basis. The effects of recently introduced enhanced prevention and detection measures will be evaluated daily.
"The NHL and NHLPA, along with their medical experts, will be monitoring not only the number and pattern of positive COVID results, but also the depth of club lineups so as to ensure both the health and safety of the players and the integrity of League competition."
A decision on when each team's training facilities will reopen will be made by the NHL and the NHL Players' Association in the coming days. The NHL is in the process of reviewing and revising the regular season schedule.
Because of the amount of games that have been postponed this season and the continuing uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, the NHL and NHLPA are actively discussing whether players should participate in the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
An announcement is expected in the coming days.
The NHL will shut down Dec. 24-26 for Christmas.
