The chorus is starting to be infamous: Two more players from the Canadiens have been added to the NHL’s COVID-19 surveillance protocol, bringing the club’s total to 13.
Head coach Dominique Ducharme has not yet confirmed their identity, information which should be revealed in the early afternoon after administrative formalities will be settled with the leagues.
We know, however, that he is not a goalkeeper. It can also be assumed that he is a support player, if not a member of the reserve squad, as Ducharme has indicated that the roster that will face the Hurricanes on Thursday night in Raleigh will be “quite similar”. to the one who played last Tuesday in Tampa.
The CH pilot said he had not received any indication of a potential postponement of the duel scheduled for the evening. His team have gone through their “usual routine” and are getting ready to play.
By subtracting these two new cases of COVID-19, and including the reserve squad, the Canadian has only 22 players available to compose a formation of 20 players for the match. “It’s starting to get thin,” Ducharme agreed. According to him, a recall would be “necessary” in order to “protect” from bad luck between now and Saturday’s game in Florida.
However, forward Jean-Sébastien Dea, who played with the Laval Rocket this season, is the only veteran under contract with the team who is currently in good health. Otherwise, a transaction or the hiring of a free agent would have to be carried out, otherwise a skater from the junior ranks would have to be repatriated. Defenders Kaiden Guhle and Arber Xjekaj as well as striker Jan Mysak would then be the only candidates available.
“We are doing everything we can to protect our players and staff” from the spread of the virus, he insisted. Even before the COVID cases, it seems that, since the first day of training camp, we have been receiving bad news and that we have to review the plans, adjust… ”
Among the few “certain” elements (the quotes are ours) on the roster that will face the Hurricanes, let us mention that goaltender Samuel Montembeault will be in goal. Antti Raanta should be his counterpart.
Unless otherwise specified, the game will start at 7 p.m.
The second camp of the Hurricanes
In the local camp, we are really looking forward to this meeting. And that is understandable.
With their last three games canceled, the Reds and Whites haven’t played since December 18. The 12-day break allowed their many players with COVID-19 to conclude their isolation.
With recent changes in NHL protocol, Jesper Fast has been able to join his teammates. Quarantine was cut in half (10 to 5 days) for asymptomatic players, and Fast was signed into protocol on December 23. However, it is not certain that he will face the Canadian in the evening or if he will instead undergo a period of fitness.
For a rare time since the start of the season, the Hurricanes will have an almost complete roster, with the exception of goaltender Frederik Anderson and defenseman Brendan Smith, the club’s last players on the COVID-19 protocol.
Back on the ice since December 26, the Canes have literally just undergone a mini-training camp. And like in October, they just want to play.
“We’re ready, the guys are excited,” confirmed Jordan Staal.
“Every time we come back after a long break, we always wonder how our first presence will be,” said Jaccob Slavin. But it’s great to see everyone on the ice and in the locker room again. We want to pick up where we left off. ”
The defender was referring here to his team’s six wins in their last seven games before Christmas.