Florida Panthers
Carolina Hurricanes game postponed due to COVID-19. Are Panthers next?
The Carolina Hurricanes game at Nashville scheduled for Tuesday night was postponed due to concerns about COVID-19, throwing doubt that Thursday’s game against the Florida Panthers will be played.
According to Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic, the issue was with the Hurricanes and not Nashville.
The two teams played Monday night with Carolina winning 4-2 as former Florida center Vincent Trocheck scored his second goal and James Reimer made 33 saves.
Tuesday’s game was postponed early in the afternoon.
Said the NHL: “The decision was made out of an abundance of caution to ensure the health and safety of players, coaches and game day personnel and in consultation with medical experts.”
The Panthers are scheduled to fly to Raleigh following practice Wednesday and play the Hurricanes on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Florida’s game Tuesday night against the visiting Chicago Blackhawks is on as scheduled.
So, too, is Thursday’s game.
For now, anyway.
Per the NHL, five Carolina players are on the latest COVID-19 list — up from one yesterday. The Panthers only have one player (Juho Lammikko) on the list after Markus Nutivaara went on it yesterday only to come off again Tuesday.
Carolina was able to leave Nashville on Tuesday although there have been reports the players who tested positive will stay in Nashville under quarantine.
Hearing the Carolina-Nashville game tonight is postponed. Covid situation with the Hurricanes.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) January 19, 2021
The Carolina-Nashville game is the fifth NHL game to be postponed due to COVID-19 affecting one of their teams.
The Dallas Stars had their first four games postponed after 17 players and two staff members tested positive.
Two of those games were against the Panthers.
Those games have been rescheduled for later in the season.
Florida’s game Tuesday night is just its second of the 2021 NHL season, fewest in the league — save for Dallas, which plays its first game Friday.
If Thursday’s game were to be postponed but Saturday’s 1 p.m. game allowed to be played in Raleigh, it is possible the two teams make up the first game Sunday.
Both teams have that day off and do not play again (Carolina plays host to Tampa Bay, the Panthers are in Columbus) until Tuesday.
The Panthers plan on returning to South Florida following Saturday’s game and flying to Ohio for their game with the Blue Jackets on Monday.
Stay tuned for more updates. We will have them right here.