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sports Diaranson 29 December 2021

NHL set to resume after 6-day break, eyes new CDC guidance

(AP) - Tampa Bay Light- two weeks would be played
ning officials pulled a with no fans in attendance.
player out of a meeting Along with needing to find
because he tested positive new dates for the games
for the coronavirus and no postponed and more sure to
one in the room flinched. come, the league also could
shift games in Canada to later
As Anthony Cirelli went into in the season with the goal of
the now-familiar COVID-19 making sure there’s a crowd
protocol, the two-time de- in the stands.
fending champions practiced
with their goaltending coach As of now, the Winter Classic
and an emergency backup between St. Louis and Min-
in net and prepared to play nesota is still scheduled to be
Montreal on Tuesday night played in front of a crowd of
in a Stanley Cup Final re- almost 40,000 at Target Field
match without either of their in Minneapolis on Saturday
NHL goalies or their coach night in keeping with the
on hand. league’s New Year’s Day tra-
dition.
“It’s just the norm,” assistant
Derek Lalonde said Monday. “We’re just happy to be play-
“Not trying to downplay it, a review of the protocol” get some games in if we can again Wednesday against the ing hockey,” Blues defen-
but I just think it’s a reality currently in place, which in- do it safely, and we can do it Nashville Predators, who seman Justin Faulk said. “I
of today’s world and today’s cludes 10 days away for those where teams have adequate are dealing with their own don’t want to be sitting at
NHL.” who contract the virus and players in the lineup.” virus absences, but the game home doing nothing during
experience symptoms. Stamkos and his teammates is scheduled to go on as this time. I think we should
Hockey will return Tuesday were preparing to play with- planned. be playing.”
after the league took an ex- While many of the cases out reigning playoff MVP
tended holiday break in the across hockey have been as- goaltender Andrei Vasilevs- “It’s not about who’s out,” In an effort to do just that,
hope that virus cases will not ymptomatic or mild, the kiy, five other players and said coach John Hynes, the league brought back “taxi
continue to disrupt the sea- spread of the highly conta- coach Jon Cooper. Montreal whose Predators put captain squads,” a feature from the
son. While three more games gious omicron variant has will also be without several Roman Josi and two other pandemic-shortened 2020
this week were postponed led to a rash of positive CO- players for the start of a three- players on the COVID-19 season. Each team will be
— bringing the total to 70 VID-19 test results across game U.S. trip; back home, protocol list. “It’s about the able to keep up to six play-
this season — the NHL like the league’s 32 teams. Doz- Quebec has banned fans and players that are in and mak- ers on the taxi squad and can
other leagues will try to pow- ens more players entered vi- all eyes are on virus restric- ing sure we’re physically make more emergency recalls
er through the latest twist rus protocol Monday, with tions in Canada that could ready to play and mentally from the minors to make
in the pandemic with a pos- minor leaguers taking their further upend the season for ready to play.” sure there are 18 skaters and
sible boost on the way in the place and taxi squads added a league with seven teams two goaltenders available for
form of shorter absences for to keep the NHL season go- based north of the border. Not every game will be every game.
players and coaches who test ing amid concerns about the played on time. Chicago’s
positive. quality of the on-ice product. The virus continues to play a game at Winnipeg scheduled “It’s what needed to hap-
role on either side of it. Pitts- for Wednesday and a home- pen,” Carolina coach Rod
The U.S. Centers for Disease “Unfortunate what’s going burgh and Washington each and-home series Wednesday Brind’Amour said. “You’re
Control and Prevention on on around the league with added six players to the CO- and Friday between Dallas going to have a lot of these is-
Monday cut the recommend- a lot of teams having to deal VID-19 protocol list, and the and Colorado are the latest sues, so that’s one way to take
ed isolation period from 10 with COVID issues right Vegas Golden Knights found to be postponed because of care of it, have enough play-
days to five, and other North now, including ourselves, but out they won’t have coach coronavirus concerns. ers around that you can keep
American professional sports I don’t think a lot is going to Peter DeBoer behind the playing. I think at the end of
leagues have already moved change moving forward here bench for their game Tuesday The province of Manitoba the day that’s what we’re try-
in that direction. NHL Dep- for the next couple weeks,” night at Los Angeles. capped ticketed crowds at ing to do: have a system in
uty Commissioner Bill Daly Lightning captain Steven 250, so any Winnipeg home place that you can get guys
said, “Obviously it will spur Stamkos said. “We do have to Washington is set to play games for at least the next into the lineup quickly.”

Analysis: Brighter days should be ahead for the NBA

(AP) - The Utah Jazz lead issue. That’s particularly im- by any measure, probably its
the NBA in a handful of pressive considering what’s most difficult since March
categories. Most 3-point- happening. Right now, 27 2020. That was when the
ers, just like they did last of the league’s 30 teams are decision to shut down hap-
season. Most points per currently waiting for at least pened on the night that Jazz
game. Most rebounds per one player to come off the center Rudy Gobert became
game. list, with some of those teams the first player to test positive
waiting for way more than for COVID-19.
They’re also last in use of the one player to be cleared.
word “protocols.” More than 500 players took
He doesn’t really think the the floor this month, a record
It’s not accurate — yet — to run of luck will last. Snyder for any month in league his-
say every team in the NBA knows it’s an “inevitability” tory. Well over 100 players
has had a coronavirus prob- that the Jazz will join the rest went into the protocols and
lem this season. No Jazz play- of the NBA. The numbers the list of postponed games
er has been on the league’s around the league indicate grew to nine. The NBA had
health and safety protocols that day is coming sooner no choice but to basically al-
list yet this season, making than later. low teams unlimited hardship count against a team’s salary But just like any new year
Utah the only team yet to December 2021 was a dif- contract slots, agreeing to not cap or luxury tax numbers. should, January will likely
lose a player to a virus-related ficult month for the NBA, have the emergency call-ups bring newfound optimism.