The New Jersey Devils have postponed their next three games this week as 10 players are currently on the NHL’s list of absences from the COVID-19 protocol.
The Devils’ games on February 2 and 4 at the Pittsburgh Penguins have been postponed, as has the game on February 6 at home against the New York Rangers. This brings the total number of games postponed in the 2020-21 NHL season to 14 since it began on January 13th.
The Devils had traveled to Pittsburgh and will remain there indefinitely for a week this week.
The NHL announced that four additional players have been added to the Devils’ COVID-19 list on Monday. The list currently includes goalkeeper Mackenzie Blackwood, who has not played since January 19; as well as strikers Andreas Johnsson, Janne Kuokkanen, Michael McLeod, Kyle Palmieri, Pavel Zacha and Travis Zajac.
Also listed are goalkeeper Aaron Dell, defender Sami Vatanen (travel quarantine) and defender Connor Carrick, who left the team to be with his wife, Lexi, for the birth of their first child.
Johnsson, Kuokkanen, McLeod and Zacha played on Sunday for the Devils’ victory at Buffalo Sabers. Sabers did not have any players listed as in protocol on Monday.
Under NHL rules, the Devils’ training unit was closed until further notice. Their next scheduled game is Feb. 9 at home against the Penguins. Delayed games will be rescheduled.