The Sabres were scheduled to start a road trip on Tuesday, but the game against the New York Islanders has been postponed, along with the next 3.
Schedule Update: @BuffaloSabres games postponed at least through February 8. https://t.co/LLL0Xq290K pic.twitter.com/yQ8NdDfQAr
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 2, 2021
This reported postponement initially seemed to be purely weather-related as New York State has had some wintery conditions over the previous 24 hours.
The New Jersey Devils, who were just in town to play Buffalo for a pair of games, have run into some COVID issues and have had players test positive.
A source says tonight's Sabres game is postponed and not weather related.
The Devils, who are in the midst of a COVID-19-related outbreak, were in Buffalo on Saturday and Sunday. The NHL updates its COVID every afternoon, so we'll see if there's a connection.
— John Vogl (@BuffaloVogl) February 2, 2021
This turned out to be much more than just weather-related…
Source: "Buffalo is furious. … They asked for more info from the league and from NJ on both Saturday and Sunday when Zajac and Palmieri went out" and they didn't get it. https://t.co/7sjs5AaHvU
— John Vogl (@BuffaloVogl) February 2, 2021
Taylor Hall and Rasmus Ristolainen were both added to the Covid list on Tuesday, and others were awaiting test results.
With that, the NHL postponed Buffalo’s next four games. Two against the Islanders and two against the Bruins.
The Sabres next scheduled game is Thursday, February 11th against the Washington Capitals. If they resume their schedule then, it’d be the first of four games in six nights, two vs. the Capitals and two vs. the Islanders.