The NHL and Vancouver Canucks have announced that the team will not be playing any games until at least April 8th.
Covid-19 Outbreak Postpones Vancouver Canucks Games
After putting off last night’s game against the Calgary Flames, the Canucks are now off the ice until Tuesday. This means they will try to reschedule games against the Flames, the Edmonton Oilers, and two against the Winnipeg Jets. Two players are confirmed to have tested positive so far. Both Travis Hamonic and Adam Gaudette have entered COVID-19 protocol already, as has one member of the coaching staff. This is the second time the team has been affected directly by the novel coronavirus. Jordie Benn and J.T. Miller missed time at the beginning of the season, with Benn out for six games and Miller missing three. Miller only missed three games as a precautionary measure, not having contracted the disease.
The Flames are continuing with their schedule as planned. The next time the Vancouver Canucks are scheduled to play is against Calgary on April 8th.
The @NHL postpones @Canucks games through Tuesday, April 6; Target Thursday, April 8 for team’s return to game play.
Details: https://t.co/cYKApZSonX pic.twitter.com/gQOhAlGa4M
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 1, 2021
What This Means
The Canucks are at the tail end of a scheduled six-day break, extending their time off considerably. This could have at least one positive effect, as a recent spate of injuries saw them play without Elias Pettersson, Brandon Sutter, and Jay Beagle, all down the middle of the ice. Pettersson is still officially listed as out of action, already scheduled to miss the Calgary game anyway. One of the few positive spins anyone can put on this is that at least the team can rest up a bit more. The last two practices will be the only time the team will have been on the ice for nearly two weeks if they return according to the new schedule. They may heal, but it’s hard to think they’ll be at the top of their game.
More challenging is Hamonic’s positive test. The defenceman chose not to attend the “playoff bubble” in Edmonton last season because of his daughter’s vulnerability
Main Photo: OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 17: Vancouver Canucks Defenceman Travis Hamonic (27) keeps eyes on the play during second period National Hockey League action between the Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators on March 17, 2021, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
