NHL will pause season on Wednesday, resume scheduled after Christmas break, amid COVID-19 lawsuits

The NHL will pause the season on Wednesday, two days before the expected Christmas break, the league announced Monday night.

All NHL team facilities will be closed Wednesday through Saturday as the league struggles to combat several COVID-19 outbreaks. Players are set to report back to team facilities on Sunday and continue testing daily. The NHL schedule will resume on December 27.

Decided to have only three games left on the NHL board before halftime: Monday’s game between Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild, Tuesday’s match between Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET, ESPN+) and Tuesday’s game between Tampa Bay Lightning and Vegas Golden Knights.

It has been a challenging week for the NHL, as 11 teams have suspended operations and the league has postponed all games through Christmas related to cross-border travel between Canada and the US. More than 15% of the league’s players were using virus protocols as of Monday. night.

Including games affected by the suspension starting Wednesday, 49 games have been postponed. The NHL considers it physical damage to the schedule, which is cause enough for the federation to implement a refusal clause on the player to attend the Beijing Olympics, sources told ESPN. The NHL is expected to make an announcement about the Olympics as soon as this week.

The NHL reintroduced stricter protocols this week for players, including daily testing (instead of every three days), social distancing measures, and restrictions on where players can be. until they’re not at home, a hotel, or a game field.

There is only one unvaccinated player in the NHL: Detroit Red Wings front Tyler Bertuzzi. The NHL and NHLPA have recommended booster vaccinations for players but have no plans to make it mandatory this season.