The NHL’s decision on Monday to begin an extended Christmas break after Tuesday’s games means the Kings’ Thursday game against the Golden Knights in Las Vegas has been postponed because of COVID-19. The Kings’ home game Wednesday against the Edmonton Oilers was postponed on Sunday.
The league and the players’ association announced the latest round of postponements jointly, bringing the total number of games postponed to 49 because of a dramatic spike in players being placed in the league’s COVID-19 protocols, with 44 postponements made within the past two weeks.
The Ducks already had three games postponed this week: Monday against the Oilers in Edmonton, Tuesday against the Flames in Calgary and Thursday against the Canucks in Vancouver. The Ducks were scheduled to practice Tuesday and Wednesday at Great Park Ice in Irvine, but they have called off both sessions.
Teams originally were to begin the holiday break after Thursday’s games, returning to practice or play games Monday. The league and the union said in a joint announcement that the break would now begin after Tuesday’s games and teams would be shut down until 2 p.m. local time on Sunday.
The Kings’ next scheduled game is Monday against the Coyotes in Glendale, Arizona. The Ducks’ next game is Monday against the San Jose Sharks at Honda Center. Makeup dates for the postponed games were not announced, but it’s believed some games will be slotted into the Olympic break in February.
The availability of some arenas could prove problematic, however.
It’s anticipated that the league and the union will announce later this week that its players will not participate in the Winter Olympics in Beijing because of scheduling conflicts. More than 15 percent of the league’s 700-plus players are currently in the protocols and 10 teams were already shut down because of outbreaks.
As of Monday, the Kings had three players in the NHL’s protocols: Center Phillip Danault, defenseman Drew Doughty and goaltender Cal Petersen. The Ducks did not have anyone in the protocols, although right wing Jakob Silfverberg was sidelined for six games last month after a positive test.
According to the league’s announcement Monday to suspend all activities after Tuesday’s two-game slate, no games or practices will be held between Wednesday and Saturday, and no player shall enter the training facilities without a negative test upon returning Sunday after 2 p.m. local time.
The latest move by the league and the union is geared toward halting the spread of the omicron variant, which has quickly become the top coronavirus variant in the United States, with more than 70 percent of all new cases. Much about the omicron variant remains unknown, including whether it causes more or less severe illness. Scientists say omicron spreads even easier than other variants.
The league postponed 12 games on Sunday involving cross-border travel, citing “the fluid nature of federal travel restrictions.” Any player, coach or other member of a team’s traveling party would have to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days, per current American and Canadian mandates.
The NHL reintroduced stricter protocols this week for players, including daily testing (instead of once every three days), social distancing measures and restrictions on where players can go when they are not at home, the hotel or the rink.
There is only one NHL player who is not vaccinated: Detroit Red Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi. The NHL and NHLPA have recommended the vaccine booster to players but do not have plans to mandate it this season.