ST PAUL, Minn. — The NHL announced Monday afternoon the postponement of two additional Minnesota Wild games due to an outbreak of COVID-19 on the roster.
Thursday's home game against St. Louis and Saturday's game in Los Angeles have both been postponed. Minnesota is scheduled to play the Kings on Tuesday, Feb. 16, but it's still unclear if the Wild will be allowed to resume play by then.
The Wild stopped play last week due to a handful of players being placed on the league's COVID-19 protocol list. As of right now, at least 11 Wild players have been placed on the COVID list.
Team General Manager Bill Guerin spoke with reporters Monday about the pause in the season, and while the GM obviously wants to move past the battle with the virus, he wants to make sure the hockey club handles the outbreak responsibly.
"I think we'll be better off taking the extra time, making sure our guys are healthy. If we have to wait a few more days, we have to wait a few more days," Guerin said. "Let's just wait it out, do the right thing, and it'll be OK in the end."
Most recently, the Wild added Carson Soucy and Victor Rask to the COVID-19 protocol list, joining Nick Bjugstad, Nick Bonino, Ian Cole, Joel Eriksson Ek, Marcus Foligno, Brad Hunt, Marcus Johansson, Jared Spurgeon and Nico Sturm. Guerin says there very well could be more. "It's kinda creepin' it's way through the team," he told reporters.
"The players that have gotten it seem to have minor symptoms,... nothing crazy, kind of like some achiness, loss of taste and their sense of smell."
The NHL also postponed two more Buffalo Sabres games and three more New Jersey Devils games as both teams deal with COVID outbreaks within their locker rooms.
The Wild have closed their training facility as they continue to follow COVID guidelines. The league will decide when Minnesota will be allowed to resume practice at a later date.
