NHL puts hold on cross-border games

The NHL and its players association temporarily clamped down on teams crossing the Canadian border and shut down operations of a sixth team Sunday in hopes of salvaging the season as COVID19 outbreaks spread across the league.

The Red Wings were added to the list of teams told to shut down operations, joining the Avalanche, Panthers, Flames, Predators and Bruins.

Canadian-based teams will not play U.s.-based teams from Monday through Thursday, with those postponed games expected be rescheduled.

All told, 27 games have been postponed through Saturday and 12 more through Thursday will be pushed to another date. Roughly 10% of the 700-plus players were in the league’s virus protocol as of Saturday.

“We will continue to play the 2021-22 regular season schedule,” the NHL and NHLPA said Sunday in a joint statement.

All of the COVID-19 disruptions may lead to NHL players staying home instead of participating in the Winter Olympics in less than two months.

College football: Former Auburn QB Bo Nix is transferring to Oregon. Nix was the SEC freshman of the year in 2019 and spent the last three seasons as Auburn’s starter.

NBA: Saddiq Bey scored 26 points and the Pistons snapped their franchise record-tying, 14-game losing streak with a 100-90 victory over the visiting Heat.

NFL: LB T.J. Watt set the Steelers’ franchise record for single-season sacks against the Titans, reaching a league-high 17. James Harrison set the previous mark in 2008 . ... Giants veteran WR Sterling Shepard suffered a season-ending torn left Achilles against the Cowboys.

WNBA: The Mystics landed the No. 1 pick of the WNBA draft. The Fever, who had the best odds, ended up second in the lottery.