Just as the NHL deals with a difficult COVID-19 situation in Vancouver, another one seems to be emerging. The Colorado Avalanche have canceled morning skate again today after another member of their traveling party tested positive for coronavirus. The release does not indicate whether it was a player, coach or staff member, but this is not an isolated incident. The Avalanche canceled the skate on Wednesday as well after Philipp Grubauer tested positive, but still went on to play the St. Louis Blues that night. Out of an abundance of caution, the Los Angeles Kings–the scheduled opponent for tonight’s Avalanche game–have also canceled their morning skate.
Grubauer joined Bowen Byram on the COVID Protocol Related Absences list earlier this week. This would be the team’s third positive (at least released publicly) in the last week. The Avalanche also had many of their players vaccinated recently and have played both games after the previous positives turned up.
It is unclear whether that trend will continue tonight against the Kings, but so far there is no official word from the NHL on a potential postponement. If this most recent positive test result was a player, he will not be eligible to take part in tonight’s action if the game goes ahead.