The Islanders had gone three days without an eighth positive COVID-19 test and it looked as if they were on the other side of their recent outbreak.
Not so.
After Casey Cizikas tested positive on Saturday, the NHL announced it was postponing the Islanders’ next two games — at the Rangers on Sunday and at the Flyers on Tuesday. As of now, the Islanders are scheduled to return to action on Thursday at home against the Sharks, but that is subject to change.
“The National Hockey League announced today that as a result of an additional New York Islanders player entering COVID protocol this morning, and up to eight players potentially unavailable to play due to COVID protocol, as well as the possibility of additional cases due to spread, the team’s games will be postponed at least through Tuesday, Nov. 30,” the league said in a statement. “The decision was made by the league in consultation with the NHLPA’s and club’s medical groups.
“The league is in the process of reviewing and revising the Islanders’ regular season schedule.”
Islanders president Lou Lamoriello said on a Zoom call with the media following the announcement that in addition to the players, three members of the organization had also tested positive.
Josh Bailey, the first Islander to test positive, did skate on Saturday and would have been a game-time decision to play against the Rangers on Sunday had the game been played.
“We have to trust, and we do, their decisions, what goes into these decisions, what statistics allow them to make these conclusions,” Lamoriello said when asked why games were postponed now instead of earlier. “I am not privy to that so all we can do is respond to what those decisions are as we have today.”
The Islanders are in the midst of an eight-game losing streak, and have played with a severely undermanned roster for the past week. Adam Pelech, Anders Lee, Kieffer Bellows, Ross Johnston, Andy Greene and Zdeno Chara are all in COVID protocol. Ryan Pulock and Brock Nelson are both on injured reserve.
Lamoriello denied a report that he had asked the league for postponements. With the Islanders at 5-10-2, the lack of postponements before now has potentially damaged their playoff chances.
“With the two games being postponed, it’s my understanding that we will certainly be tested each and every one of the next three days and I’m sure there’ll be a conclusion after that as to whether we play the San Jose game or not,” Lamoriello said. “But that’s my assumption and I hate to assume.”
With the shutdown, the Islanders are not allowed to even come to their practice rink. Lamoriello said it was his understanding that, if the team tests negative for three days in a row, they will be able to practice the following day.
It’s unclear, though, what the league’s threshold for postponing games is. In the case of the Senators, it took 10 players, plus a coach, testing positive to postpone three games.
“I have to practice what I preach, what we have no control of you can’t be distracted by,” Lamoriello said when asked about his frustration level. “And all you can do is just stay focused on what you do have control of. And our coaching staff has done that, we’ve asked our players to do that and I think they’ve done a tremendous job over the set of circumstances.”