The Avalanche are postponing at least the next four games following a team COVID outbreak.
The Florida Panthers and Calgary Flames are also postponed through Christmas.
Colorado had five players enter COVID protocol within 48 hours. Defenseman Devon Toews missed Tuesday’s home game against the New York Rangers but was joined by teammates J.T. Compher, Andre Burakovsky, Darcy Kuemper and Cale Makar right before Thursday’s game at Nashville began.
The Avs were forced to play with just 16 skaters (10 forwards) with emergency goalie Dustin Smith backing up Pavel Francouz on Thursday.
Per the NHL, “The Flames, Avalanche and Panthers organizations have followed, and will continue to follow, all recommended guidelines aimed at protecting the health and safety of their players, staff and community at large as set by the NHL, local, state/provincial and federal agencies.”
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Aarif Deen is our Colorado Avalanche beat reporter. He covers Avs games live from Ball Arena and attends practices, media availabilities and other events pertaining to the Avs on the daily beat. He is also a co-host of Hockey Mountain High: Your go-to Avalanche Podcast. Deen joined Mile High Sports upon completion of his bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in business administration from the University of Michigan – Dearborn. Before Mile High Sports, Deen worked for the Michigan Wolverines Athletics Department as the assistant sports information director.
Follow him on Twitter @runwriteAarif