NHL’s new COVID norm as Pittsburgh Penguins newest team to cancel practice, Blue Jackets back on ice
Anthony Scultore
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No one thought this was going to be easy. In the last two days we have had three teams dealing with COVID related issues. Yesterday the Dallas Stars announced six players tested positive while 17 Blue Jackets didn’t practice.
This morning, the Pittsburgh Penguins have cancelled practice as we await more word on the situation.
Blue Jackets survive scare?
Some good news as the Blue Jackets will likely not have to postpone their season. They have an 11 AM ET practice set today with most of those that missed yesterday back on ice.
Head coach, John Tortorella learned of the situation from the head trainer before they took the ice yesterday. His concerns about getting past this and surviving what will be a challenging season for all teams is a fair assessment.
“Who knows what happens day to day?” Tortorella said after practice. “Maybe it’s good that it happens early on here, try to figure out protocol, try to drill home the protocol and how we adjust to it.”
It looks like the Jackets dodged a COVID bullet, but this should serve as another warning for a clubs going forward.