The Blackhawks home game Tuesday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets has been postponed due to “Covid-related issues”. Since the Holiday break, the Blue Jackets have announced six players in the COVID-19 protocol. The Blackhawks only had one player, Calvin de Haan, in the protocol due to a technicality.
Since the Blackhawks did not practice on Sunday, they were not required to announce any additions to the COVID-19 protocol. With a Blackhawks practice scheduled for Monday, the expectation is that several more players will be added to the protocol. This postponement now gives the Blackhawks four home games they need make up in February.
In addition to the Blackhawks game being canceled, the league already canceled 14 other games for Monday. To combat the recent outbreaks of COVID-19, the NHL has reinstituted stricter masking rules and social distancing protocols. The NHL also temporarily brought back taxi squads, through the February break. Teams can assign up to six players to the squad at one time and a player can stay on the taxi squad for a maximum of 20 days. With the taxi squad and stricter mitigation methods in place, hopefully, the NHL will not have to continue to postpone games.
The Blackhawks’ next game is scheduled for Wednesday in Winnipeg, however, crossing the Canadian border with a recent covid outbreak could pose an issue. We will have to wait and see if or when the Blackhawks resume their season.
COVID-19 Protocal Updates
Early this morning, the Blackhawks announced that goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has entered COVID-19 protocol, defenseman Calvin de Haan has been removed from protocol, forward Brett Connelly has been assigned to the taxi squad and goaltender Collin Delia has been recalled from Rockford.
MEDICAL UPDATE: Marc-Andre Fleury will not practice today (COVID-19 Protocol).
Defenseman Calvin de Haan has been removed from COVID-19 Protocol. pic.twitter.com/vupQSbISpS
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) December 27, 2021