The upcoming two-game series between the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks, to take place in Glendale, Arizona, has been postponed, the league announced Friday.
The NHL announced that three Vegas coaches, along with one player, were placed into COVID-19 protocol. The Golden Knights have closed their practice facilities, but The Arsenal and MacKenzie River Pizza will remain open to the public at City National Arena.
Vegas defenseman Alex Pietrangelo is the only Knights player to be placed on the league’s COVID protocol absence list as of 2 p.m. PT, when teams are to submit a list of which players are unable to participate in practice or gameday activities.
Pietrangelo told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Thursday that he’s experiencing mild symptoms, and is “trying to keep the family safe.”
Vegas’ game against the Blues on Thursday was postponed “after recent tests warranted more caution while the League continues to analyze test results in the coming days,” the league said.
These are the 10th and 11th games to be postponed by the NHL due to COVID-19 this season.
This was set to be Vegas’ second trip to Glendale in a week; the Golden Knights completed their first road trip of the season last weekend against the Arizona Coyotes. Gila River Arena was to be a temporary home for the Sharks as the state of California continued to assess COVID situations, particularly through contact sports. The city of San Jose announced the Sharks can return home and play games at SAP Center starting Feb. 13.
As for the Golden Knights, the unknown looms large. Vegas’ next game is scheduled for Feb. 5 against the Los Angeles Kings, the start of a five-game homestand. The Golden Knights won’t play on the road until their “road” contest at Lake Tahoe against the Colorado Avalanche on Feb. 20.
To no one’s surprise, the Golden Knights canceled practice in advance on Friday and did not hold media availability.
Now, it’s a wait-and-see approach for what comes next.