Maple Leafs cancel practice as they lose Tavares, Kerfoot

And the outbreak continues and it has now entered the Toronto Maple Leafs’ dressing room. On Friday, the Leafs announced that forwards Alexander Kerfoot and John Tavares have been placed into the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.

For precautionary reasons, today’s practice in Vancouver has been cancelled.

Over 60 positive NHL cases were reported in the past four days (although the vast majority are asymptomatic).

Under health guidance from the Quebec government, the Montreal Canadiens played Thursday’s game in an empty Bell Centre. Ontario mandated that attendance at Raptors, Leafs and Ottawa Senators games be chopped off at 50 per cent capacity until further notice.

Earlier today, the Edmonton Oilers announced that forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was place in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol. COVID took Edmonton head coach Dave Tippett off the bench for Tuesday’s game, and Oilers Devin Shore and Ryan McLeod have both entered protocol since that game. The Maple Leafs face the Oilers on Tuesday night. 

In Calgary, Mikael Backlund became the 19th Flames player to enter the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol on Friday as the outbreak is getting worse around the National Hockey League. One member of the team’s support staff has also entered the protocol for the Flames, who are shutdown through at least Saturday.

That puts the Flames’ total number of cases up to 32, including 19 players.

The Maple Leafs are set to face the Canucks in Vancouver tomorrow night. No details were given on the possibility of postponing the game at this point.