(Cranberry Township) Pittsburgh Penguins defenders Marcus Pettersson and Chad Ruhwedel entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol on Monday after testing positive for the virus.
Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan confirmed the test result. He said Pettersson had symptoms while Ruhwedel was asymptomatic.
Pettersson and Ruhwedel are the fifth and sixth Penguins players to enter protocol this season, joining forwards Jeff Carter, Jake Guentzel, Zach Aston-Reese and defenseman Kris Letang.
Letang, who was asymptomatic, was given the green light to return with the team, although it is too early to say if he will be available for Thursday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Carter, Guentzel and Aston-Reese have already returned to the game.
“I don’t think it’s happening because guys aren’t paying attention or doing the right things,” Sullivan said. I just believe it’s part of the world we live in. Protocols aren’t mandatory, but I think our guys are doing a really good job just using common sense. ”