2:40 PM ET The NHL made another round of postponements Saturday amid a growing number of COVID-19 cases around the league. Nashville and Boston will both be shut down through Christmas. The Predators have eight players and several coaches placed in COVID-19 protocols and were due to play Carolina on Sunday and Winnipeg on Tuesday.
NHL
12:26 PM ET Associated Press The NHL reintroduced stricter COVID-19 protocols Saturday that include daily testing and other steps in a bid to limit a growing outbreak among players and team personnel. The enhanced protocols will be put into effect immediately and last through Jan. 1 with an evaluation of their impact no later than
1:33 PM ET The NHL has postponed games for the Florida Panthers and Colorado Avalanche until after Christmas break. That news came down Friday as COVID-19 cases continue to climb throughout the NHL. At the time of publication, Florida had seven players in COVID protocols: Sam Bennett, Radko Gudas, Aaron Ekblad, Frank Vatrano, Ryan Lomberg,
12:41 PM ET NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has reduced the suspension of Toronto Maple Leafs center Jason Spezza from six games to four for kneeing the head of Winnipeg Jets defenseman Neal Pionk on Dec. 5. Spezza had been suspended for six games by the Department of Player Safety, which had called the hit “reckless”
10:58 AM ET Paul Maurice has resigned as coach of the Winnipeg Jets, the team announced on Friday. Maurice was in his ninth season as Jets coach, amassing a record of 315-223-62. Assistant coach Dave Lowry has agreed to become the team’s interim head coach ahead of Friday night’s home game against the Washington Capitals.
9:41 AM ET ESPN News Services Saturday’s game between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins has been postponed, the NHL announced Friday. No makeup date for the game has been set. Montreal played in front of an empty arena Thursday for its 3-2 shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers after Quebec public health officials requested
7:00 AM ET For the first time since the 2014 Sochi Games, the NHL is allowing its players to participate in the Winter Olympic men’s hockey tournament in Beijing next February. National pride and gold-medal glory are on the line for the best players in the world — provided they actually make it to China.
8:58 PM ET Associated Press VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Vancouver Canucks president and interim general manager Jim Rutherford continued to fill out his front office Thursday, making Stan Smyl vice president of hockey operations. The 62-year-old Smyl, a star player for the Canucks from 1978-91, will work closely with Rutherford on all hockey operations matters,
5:51 PM ET The Carolina Hurricanes have been able to transport their COVID-19 positive players out of Canada and get them en route home, the team has confirmed. Hurricanes forwards Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis, along with massage therapist Mike Maresca, tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday while Carolina was in Vancouver, British Columbia. In
5:24 PM ET ESPN News Services The Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers were to play in an empty Bell Centre on Thursday night due to a “spiraling rise” of COVID-19 cases. The Canadiens announced about two hours before puck drop that Quebec public health officials had requested that no fans attend the game. “We have