(New York) After the Ottawa Senators last week, it’s the New York Islanders’ turn to be on forced leave due to COVID-19.
In a statement released Saturday afternoon, the National Hockey League announced that the team’s games scheduled until Tuesday, November 30, at a minimum, have been postponed.
The NHL said it made the decision after consultation with the players’ association and team medical groups.
The league is in the process of revising the Islanders’ schedule.
In its press release, the NHL explained that the decision was made, initially, following the addition of an Islanders player, Saturday morning, to the league’s protocols related to COVID-19.
In addition, the league added that eight players could be unavailable because of the protocols of the NHL and said it fears the addition of new cases.
The Islanders’ list of players already under NHL protocols includes captain Anders Lee and Josh Bailey, the team’s leading scorer.
Defeated 1-0 by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday, the Islanders (5-10-2) were due to visit the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Sunday and the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night.
At the earliest, the Islanders will play their next game on December 4 against the Red Wings in Detroit.
The Islanders have lost their last eight meetings.