ICYMI: The NHL postpones more games in Canada due to capacity restrictions

In case you missed it last night, the NHL announced further postponements for games in Canada due to restrictions on arena capacity.

NEW YORK (Jan. 5, 2022) – The National Hockey League announced today that, due to current attendance restrictions in certain Canadian cities, three additional games will be rescheduled for dates later in the season when such restrictions may be eased or lifted:

Saturday, Jan. 15

New Jersey @ Montreal

Monday, Jan. 17

New Jersey @ Toronto

Tuesday, Jan. 18

Chicago @ Edmonton

The NHL is now well over 100 games that need to be rescheduled due to COVID-19 related postponements, with most of those for the league's Canadian teams. Because most NHL arenas in Canada are under capacity restrictions, the NHL has made the decision to postpone those games for revenue reasons. Once buildings are allowed to be filled again those games will be rescheduled so that the teams can recoup some of their financial losses.

The Montreal Canadiens have yet to play a game at The Bell Centre in downtown Montreal in 2022 and will likely have to wait until February at the earliest, according to multiple online reports.

The Habs have had their home games postponed by the NHL citing revenue concerns over the fact that the province of Quebec has limited arena capacity in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. Ditto for other Canadian teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks.

With four home games in January already postponed, yesterday the NHL officially postponed the Habs' January 15th home game agains the New Jersey Devils. The team is then scheduled to hit the road in the United States before returning home for a game against the visiting Anaheim Ducks on January 27th, but most experts believe that that game will in fact be postponed, as well. Ditto for its scheduled games on January 29th and 30th. That means that the earliest this team will play a home game will be in the month of February. That's... that's quite a road trip for a team that has struggled to find their footing this season.