NEW YORK — The Islanders’ COVID-19 outbreak worsened again on Saturday and, as a result, the NHL announced it has postponed at least the team’s next two games.
The team announced that an additional player entered the COVID-19 protocol Saturday morning and the Islanders would have potentially up to eight players unavailable for Sunday night’s scheduled game against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
Captain Anders Lee, Kieffer Bellows, Ross Johnston and defensemen Adam Pelech, Andy Greene and Zdeno Chara were in COVID-19 protocol for Friday night’s 1-0 loss to the Penguins at UBS Arena, the last-place Islanders’ eighth straight defeat.
Josh Bailey, the first player to test positive on Nov. 16, rejoined the team on Friday after quarantining in Florida and skated on Saturday. The Islanders were hopeful he would be available against the Rangers, but Saturday’s announcement seemed to indicate he would not be ready.
The Islanders also have defenseman Ryan Pulock and Brock Nelson on injured reserve because of lower-body injuries.
The decision to postpone at least two games — including Tuesday at Philadelphia — was made by the NHL in consultation with medical advisors from the NHL Players’ Association and the Islanders.
"The League is in the process of reviewing and revising the Islanders’ regular season schedule," the Islanders said in a statement. "The Islanders organization has followed, and will continue to follow, all recommended guidelines aimed at protecting the health and safety of its Players, staff and community at large as set by the NHL, local, state and national agencies."
The Senators, who had three games rescheduled, are the only other NHL team so far this season to have games postponed because of a COVID-19 outbreak. The next Islanders’ game now on their schedule is against the Sharks on Thursday at UBS Arena.
