Isles’ Chara enters COVID-19 protocol
New York Islanders defenceman Zdeno Chara entered the NHL’S COVID-19 protocol on Tuesday.
Chara became the seventh player on the team to enter the protocol, joining captain Anders Lee, Josh Bailey, Kieffer Bellows and Ross Johnston and defencemen Adam Pelech and Andy Greene.
Also on Tuesday, the Islanders announced forward Brock Nelson will be sidelined two to four weeks with a lower-body injury. He sustained the injury in the first period of New York’s 3-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday.
Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello addressed Chara’s situation: “We’ll continue to do what we have control of. You can’t deal with things that are out of your hands. Certainly, these are difficult times, but we will stay focused on the players we have, what our abilities are to replace players if necessary and just stay as positive as we possibly can.
“I don’t think there’s any way you could approach this or handle this any differently.”
Chara, 44, has two assists in 15 games this season, his 24th in the NHL.
Nelson, 30, leads the team in both goals (nine) and points (11) this season.
He has 339 career points (177 goals, 162 assists) in 619 games since being selected by the Islanders with the 30th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Draft.
Minnesota Wild captain Jared Spurgeon is weekto-week with a lower-body injury, head coach Dean Evason said Tuesday.
The defenceman, who turns 32 next week, sustained the injury during Saturday’s 5-4 loss to Florida.
Spurgeon has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 17 games and ranks third on the team in average time on ice (20:28).
“Are we worried? Yeah, for sure,” Evason said. “Are we worried that Jared Spurgeon didn’t play in this game and moving forward? Sure. He’s everything to our hockey club. It’s a big, big hole. He drives the offence on the back end.
“He’s so good defensively, killing penalties, power play. But what he does within the room is pretty special. So, are we worried? Sure, but hopefully it shakes down (as) not as bad. Hopefully it isn’t.”