Photo: Nick Waas/AP
Washington Capitals forward Jakub Vrana was removed from the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list on Tuesday after being put on it on Saturday evening. Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux and defenseman Justin Braun joined defenseman Travis Sanheim on the list.
The NHL postponed the game between the Flyers and Capitals originally scheduled for Tuesday night after either Giroux or Braun tested positive for the virus.
After Vrana was removed on Tuesday and center Evgeny Kuznetsov and goaltender Ilya Samsonov came off of the COVID-19 list on Monday, the Capitals have no players on the list.
The Buffalo Sabres, who were scheduled to host the Capitals on Thursday and Saturday before both games got postponed, have nine players on the COVID-19 list, including defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, and forward Taylor Hall.
The New Jersey Devils and Minnesota Wild, who have 19 and 13 players, respectively, on the COVID-19 list, are both on pause until at least Tuesday, February 16. The Colorado Avalanche, who have three, are on pause until Sunday.
Photo: @TomGulitti_NHL
Per the NHL’s press release, the reason a player is listed as “unavailable” due to COVID protocols includes: (1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons.
The Capitals are scheduled to play the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday afternoon (3 PM ET, NBC).
By Harrison Brown
