Oilers vs. Canadiens Game Start Time Postponed Due to COVID Concern

Some not-so wonderful news came down the pipe on Thursday afternoon as one of the Edmonton Oilers players has entered COVID-19 Protocol earlier today and the game versus the Montreal Canadiens has been postponed by an hour as a result. This is not to say a player has tested positive, but that the league needs to do more investigation as to how far potential contact might have spread.

Related: Puljujarvi Possibly Out for Oilers vs. Canadiens Game

Statement from the @NHL on tonight’s @EdmontonOilers – @CanadiensMTL game start time. pic.twitter.com/YCqMQamJCd

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 11, 2021

The NHL’s Public Relations department says more time is needed for analysis and test results to clear before the previously scheduled game was to start. Prior to the news, the Oilers were set to take on the Canadiens at 7PM EST. Now, the game is being moved to 8PM EST.

*** Update: It is Puljujarvi that has been added to the Oilers COVID protocol list, but it is important to note that this does not mean he has contracted the virus.

As John Shannon reports, the Oilers and the league accelerated morning PCR tests. Additional rapid tests for 8 or 9 people of the traveling party occurred this afternoon. Team minus Puljujarvi are at the Bell Centre now, which bodes well for game being played.

Puljujarvi was being held off the ice due to precautionary reasons.

If Puljujarvi does test positive, he will have to quarantine in Montreal for 10 days, according to NHL protocol.

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