Oops! I spoke too soon.
TSN’s Frank Seravalli reports that the Flyers-Capitals game has been postponed.
Continue to @DarrenDreger, tonight’s # Flyers–# Caps game has been postponed.
– Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) February 9, 2021
TSN’s Darren Dreger first reported that the Flyers had some COVID-19 issues earlier in the morning. Dredger added that “more information is expected to emerge this morning.” He was right.
Ongoing problems with CoVid with the Flyers. More information is expected to appear this morning after medical meetings.
– Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 9, 2021
Flyers defender Travis Sanheim tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday morning. The NHL then quickly tested every Flyers player and staff member before finally deciding that the game would be played. It might have been a mistake.
The problem now is that an additional Flyers player tested positive late Monday night, meaning the team could have an outbreak.
Another positive test late last night. https://t.co/gfMfBZ6PD5
– Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 9, 2021
This can be bad for capitals.
– Peter (good tweets only) (@peterhassett) February 9, 2021
And also not good for the referees who took the ice on Sunday.
The two linebackers who have worked both games of the Sabers-Devils series have entered COVID-19 protocols, The Athletic has learned.
This provides further evidence of the possibility of transfer on the ice, which according to the NHL has not been definitively seen. https://t.co/PdsL9B19aP
– John Vogl (@BuffaloVogl) 8 February 2021
With the Flyers out of action, the Eastern Division now has only five teams active. The Buffalo Sabers and New Jersey Devils are all on the sidelines due to their own outbreaks.
The Capitals postponed their other two games against the Sabers later this week, meaning their next game will be Sunday against the Penguins.
1:30 update: The NHL made it official.
The @NHL has today the following schedule updates regarding the @NHLFlyers, @Hoofstede, @StLouisBlues and @ArizonaCoyotes. https://t.co/VEDVsI8lCl pic.twitter.com/xoMBHLsEKl
– NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 9, 2021
The release reads:
NEW YORK (February 9, 2021) – The National Hockey League announced today that the team’s game tonight against the Washington Capitals has been postponed due to a second Philadelphia Flyers player entering the NHL’s COVID protocols earlier today. The decision of the medical groups of the league, the NHLPA and the club was taken out of an abundance of caution, while the league continued to analyze the test results in the following days.
The rescheduled date will be announced if available.
In addition, the league announced that Game # 684, St. Louis in Arizona, scheduled for April 15, is now scheduled for Friday, February 12 at 9:00 PM ET; and that Game # 239, St. Louis in Arizona, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. ET, will now begin at 8 p.m. ET.