The latest NHL postponement has come down today, as the Vegas Golden Knights and St. Louis Blues will not play this evening. The Golden Knights regular coaching staff was put into self-isolation earlier this week due to an “abundance of caution” while GM Kelly McCrimmon and the AHL staff took over behind the bench. The two teams played on Tuesday night, but today a player and another member of the Golden Knights coaching staff have entered the league’s COVID protocols, leading to the postponement. The team’s training facilities have been closed until further notice.
The Golden Knights were set to meet the San Jose Sharks for games on Monday and Wednesday, then travel back to Las Vegas for a six-game homestand that included the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and Colorado Avalanche. It’s not clear at this point whether there will be more postponements. The Blues meanwhile were headed to Anaheim after today’s game for a back-to-back series on Saturday and Sunday, before returning home to welcome the Arizona Coyotes on Tuesday. Importantly, the Blues did take the ice today for an optional morning skate, while the Golden Knights saw their practice canceled.
The Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars have both previously required postponements, creating some serious imbalance on the Central Division table. The Chicago Blackhawks have already played eight games, while the Stars, Hurricanes and Florida Panthers have all played just three to this point. With the league’s focus on getting in all 56 matches for every club, these postponements will have to be squeezed in down the road. The Golden Knights and Blues do finish the season against each other, perhaps a spot to put in an additional game.