The National Hockey League has made a number of changes to their COVID protocol in the wake of the recent outbreak with the New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres and Minnesota Wild, requiring the three clubs to postpone their games this week.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, each NHL arena will remove the glass behind team benches to provide better airflow for players sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with no masks. The NHL is considering having teams deploy portable air cleaners with HEPA filters behind the benches, “in order to improve indoor air quality and mitigate airborne viral transmission.”
Players and coaches at the earliest can arrive at the arena one hour and 45 minutes before puck drop and teams are being asked to utilize (or create) additional locker room space for themselves and their opponents.
"The league is trying to do what they think is best to keep everyone safe and as players it's our job to pay attention to those, to live by those and just adjust accordingly. I think that's all we can do." Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly said on Thursday. "We all chose to play, there was a choice given to us and we're just rolling with it now, we're trying to do our best to stay safe and be aware of what's going on and abide by the protocols and that's about it."
The glass has been removed from behind the playing benches at @ScotiabankArena, as per the new NHL protocols circulated to teams late last night. pic.twitter.com/AvhJAzellD
After a four-day break, the Maple Leafs get back into action in the first of three straight against the Vancouver Canucks at Scotiabank Arena on Thursday.
Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed that Nic Petan will make his first start of the season on the fourth line with Travis Boyd and Jason Spezza, continuing the rotation of players in and out of the lineup. It is expected that this rotation on the bottom pairing and at depth forward will continue for awhile, but Keefe indicated that at some point there will be a decision on a set group.
"We think that's healthy for the depth of our organization to let players know whether you're on our taxi squad or stay ready group and a part of it here or if you're down with the Marlies, that there's lots of reasons to continue to work and be prepared. At the same time, we just have an opportunity here right now with some added flexibility, as we're going through some injury situations to look at different people. It's a combination of continuing to keep everybody honest and working, and pushing to be at their best everyday to seize their opportunity." Keefe said. "There will come a time where we have to settle on the people that we think are our absolute best lineup each day. We don't think we're quite there yet, but we're inching closer to toward that I believe, and we're just going to continue to watch."
Travis Dermott is expected to replace Mikko Lehtonen in the lineup on Thursday. Frederik Andersen will make his fourth consecutive start in goal for Toronto, while Thatcher Demko is expected to be between the pipes for Vancouver.
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