2 more games put on ice for now

NHL announces postponements due to COVID-19 outbreaks on other teams

The Florida Panthers will once again have multiple games canceled due to a COVID-19 outbreak on the opposing team.

The NHL announced Wednesday that the Panthers’ next two games, Thursday and Saturday, will be postponed because of COVID-19 issues on the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Panthers, who had their first two games of the season against Dallas called off because of a COVID-19 outbreak among the Stars, will visit the Columbus Blue Jackets next Tuesday when their schedule resumes.

The NHL postponed games for Carolina through “at least” Saturday after five Hurricanes players were placed on the league’s COVID-19 protocol list.

The league announced the postponements Wednesday, a day before the Hurricanes were set to host the Panthers in their home opener. The teams were scheduled to play again Saturday afternoon.

Along with the postponements, the league said the Hurricanes’ training facilities have been closed and will remain that way for players “until further

notice.” The league is reviewing and revising Carolina’s regular-season schedule.

This is the second straight postponement involving the Hurricanes, with their game at Nashville on Tuesday called off in the NHL’s first postponement since the season began.

The league didn’t specify which team prompted that night’s postponement in either announcement, though four Hurricanes players — Warren Foegele, Jordan Martinook, Jaccob Slavin and Teuvo Teravainen

— were added to the daily COVID-19 list later Tuesday afternoon.

Captain Jordan Staal had been on the list since Friday, with the Hurricanes losing at Detroit on Saturday, then winning at Nashville on Monday in that span.

The league’s statement said the team has followed recommended health and safety guidelines.

The Panthers, who have had four of their first six games postponed due to COVID-19, are off to a 2-0 start after a pair of season-opening wins over the Chicago Blackhawks at BB&T Center.

MICHAEL LAUGHLIN/SUN SENTINEL The Panthers’ Anthony Duclair tries to control the puck in front of the Blackhawks’ Connor Murphy on Tuesday night at BB&T Center.