COVID scratches games in NHL

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Carolina Hurricanes became the latest NHL team hit by a coronavirus outbreak Tuesday as four more players were placed in the COVID-19 protocol, prompting the league to postpone their game at Minnesota.

The call came a little more than five hours before the scheduled start time in St. Paul, where several Hurricanes were lined up for testing in the arena hallways before their morning skate at Xcel Energy Center. The NHL did not immediately announce a rescheduled date.

The Hurricanes became the fourth NHL team this season to have games postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Last month, Ottawa had three games postponed and the New York Islanders two.

Meanwhile, Calgary’s games on Monday at Chicago, on Tuesday at Nashville and on Thursday at home against Toronto were called off after three more players joined six teammates and a staff member in the virus protocol.

Bishop confirms end of career: Ben Bishop confirmed Tuesday what Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill said three days earlier: The 35-year-old’s playing days are done because of a degenerative issue in the knee.

It’s not officially a retirement because Bishop is under contract through next season and will still be around the team.

Bishop was 222-128-36 with a 2.32 goals-against average over 11 seasons with five teams.

Wild GM to run U.S. team: Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin was promoted to take over the men’s U.S. Olympic hockey team, two months after Stan Bowman’s resignation in the wake of the Chicago Blackhawks’ sexual assault scandal.