NHL postpones next three Calgary Flames games

The National Hockey League announced on Monday morning that they have decided to postpone the next three Calgary Flames games due to a COVID-19 outbreak that has seen six players and one staff member enter league protocol.

Calgary's games against Chicago on Monday night, Nashville on Tuesday night and Toronto on Thursday night are now postponed to a later date. According to reports, Elias Lindholm, Andrew Mangiapane, Brad Richardson, Adam Ruzicka, Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov, and a member of the training staff have entered the NHL's COVID-19 Protocol.

It also appears that border issues were a concern for the Flames, and they didn't even travel to Chicago for tonight's game according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

"Flames, concerned about border issues, did not travel to Chicago. If they had, players/staff who tested positive would not have been able to come back to Canada without lengthy quarantine." Friedman said in a tweet.

The NHL's statement read as follows, "The National Hockey League announced today that as a result of six Calgary Flames Players and one staff member entering the NHL's COVID Protocol within a 24-hour period, concern with continued spread, and the likelihood of additional positive cases in the coming days, the team's games will be postponed at least through Thursday, Dec. 16. The decision was made following consultation by the NHL's, the NHLPA's and Club's medical groups.

As an appropriate precaution, the team's training facilities have been closed, effective immediately, and will remain closed for Players until further notice. The League is in the process of reviewing and revising the Flames regular season schedule.

The Flames organization has followed, and will continue to follow, all recommended guidelines aimed at protecting the health and safety of its Players, staff and community at large as set by the NHL, local, provincial and national agencies."

If all goes well over the next four or five days, the Calgary Flames could be back in action as early as Saturday night when they're scheduled to host the Columbus Blue Jackets.

SCHEDULE UPDATE: @NHLFlames games postponed at least through December 16. https://t.co/F4ArYpFFPh pic.twitter.com/c34OrnpIqM— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 13, 2021

According to #Flames:

Elias Lindholm, Andrew Mangiapane, Brad Richardson, Adam Ruzicka, Chris Tanev, Nikita Zadorov, and a member of the training staff have entered the NHL's COVID-19 Protocol.— Hailey Salvian (@hailey_salvian) December 13, 2021

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