The NHL cleared the New York Islanders to resume their 2021-22 schedule after seeing two games postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
The Islanders will host the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night at the new UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y.
The road games against the New York Rangers (Sunday) and Philadelphia Flyers (Tuesday) will be made up at a later date.
“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 NHL said in a statement released Wednesday.
The decision to postpone games was made because the Islanders had eight players potentially unavailable due to COVID-19 protocols: Josh Bailey, Keiffer Bellows, Zdeno Chara, Casey Cizikas, Andy Greene, Ross Johnston, captain Anders Lee and Adam Pelech. The organization also had three non-players in protocol.
The shorthanded Islanders fell 1-0 to the Pittsburgh Penguins in their most recent game on Friday. New York (5-10-2, 12 points) has lost eight straight games and has been outscored 32-7 during the stretch.
–Field Level Media