The NHL introduced Dec. 20 that the 2021 common season was a go and would start Jan. 13.
The schedule, a 56-game condensed dash to the Stanley Cup playoffs, was devised with the expectation that some video games must be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun: “The important thing phrase this season is ‘nimble.'” The rise in instances in the USA and Canada was anticipated, sadly, to impression video games.
As talked about earlier than, the important thing phrase this season is `nimble.’ My guess is the schedule goes to vary many instances for a number of groups all through the season in all chance due to constructive checks. Get used to this. https://t.co/T3GklgInCk
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) January 8, 2021
On Jan. 8, that expectation got here to fruition after the Stars introduced six gamers and two workers members examined constructive for the coronavirus. The workforce shut down its coaching facility as a precaution, and since the information got here six days earlier than the beginning of Dallas’ season, its first three video games have been postponed.
Additionally on Jan. 8, the Blue Jackets introduced the identical day that they “held a lot of gamers out of” the workforce’s observe that day “out of an abundance of warning and in accordance with NHL COVID-19 protocols.” The workforce didn’t but postpone any video games.
As of Feb. 2, a complete of 18 video games have been postponed because of COVID-19 impacting no less than one membership.
NHL video games impacted by COVID-19
| Date of recreation ppd. | Sport | Reschedule date |
|---|---|---|
| Thu., Jan. 14 | Stars at Panthers | Mon., Feb. 22 |
| Fri., Jan. 15 | Stars at Panthers | Mon., Might 3 |
| Solar., Jan. 17 | Stars at Lightning | Tues., Might 4 |
| Tues., Jan. 19 | Stars at Lightning | Mon., Might 10 |
| Tues., Jan. 19 | Hurricanes at Predators* | Tues., March 2 |
| Thurs., Jan. 21 | Panthers at Hurricanes | Wed., Feb. 17 |
| Sat., Jan. 23 | Panthers at Hurricanes | Solar., March 7 |
| Tues., Jan. 26 | Lightning at Hurricanes | Mon., Feb. 22 |
| Thurs., Jan. 28 | Blues at Golden Knights | Mon, March 22 |
| Mon., Feb. 1 | Golden Knights at Sharks | Solar., Feb. 13 |
| Tues., Feb. 2 | Devils at Penguins | Solar., March 21 |
| Tues., Feb. 2 | Sabres at Islanders | Mon., Feb. 22 |
| Wed., Feb. 3 | Golden Knights at Sharks | Thurs., Feb. 25 |
| Thurs., Feb. 4 | Devils at Penguins | Tues., April 20 |
| Thurs., Feb. 4 | Sabres at Islanders | Thurs., March 4 |
| Thurs., Feb. 4 | Wild at Avalanche | Wed., Feb. 24 |
| Sat., Feb. 6 | Rangers at Devils | Thurs., March 4 |
| Sat., Feb. 6 | Sabres at Bruins | Sat., March 27 |
| Sat., Feb. 6 | Coyotes at Wild | Tues., March 16 |
| Sat., Feb. 6 | Avalanche at Blues | Wed., April 14 |
| Solar., Feb. 7 | Avalanche at Blues | Tues., April 20 |
| Solar., Feb. 7 | Coyotes at Wild | Wed., April 14 |
| Mon., Feb. 8 | Sabres at Bruins | Tues., April 13 |
| Tues., Feb. 9 | Blues at Wild | Mon., April 12 |
| Tues., Feb. 9 | Flyers at Capitals | Tues., April 13 |
| Tues., Feb. 9 | Coyotes at Avalanche | Wed., March 31 |
| Thurs., Feb. 11 | Coyotes at Avalanche | Mon., April 12 |
| Thurs., Feb. 11 | Capitals at Sabres | Mon., March 15 |
| Thurs., Feb. 11 | Blues at Wild | Thurs., March 25 |
| Thurs., Feb. 11 | Devils at Flyers | Solar., April 25 |
| Sat., Feb. 13 | Capitals at Sabres | Fri., April 9 |
| Sat., Feb. 13 | Wild at Kings | Fri., April 23 |
| Sat., Feb. 13 | Devils at Flyers | Mon., Might 10 |
| Solar., Feb. 14 | Flyers at Rangers | Thurs., April 22 |
| Mon., Feb. 15 | Devils at Bruins | Solar., March 7 |
| Thurs., Feb. 25 | Golden Knights at Sharks | Fri., April 23 |
| Sat., March 20 | Bruins at Sabres | Tues., April 20 |
| Mon., March 22 | Oilers at Canadiens^ | Tues., March 30 |
| Tues., March 23 | Islanders at Bruins | Mon., Might 10 |
| Wed., March 24 | Oilers at Canadiens | Mon., Might 10 |
| Fri., March 26 | Oilers at Canadiens | Tues., Might 11 |
| Solar., March 28 | Senators at Canadiens | Sat., April 17 |
| Wed., March 31 | Flames at Canucks |
*Hurricanes at Predators was the primary NHL recreation to be postponed on the day of.
^First North Division recreation postponed.
Resulting from Dallas’ video games being postponed in January, the next video games have been additionally impacted:
- Panthers at Crimson Wings, initially scheduled for Feb. 21, is now Sat., Feb. 20.
- Stars at Panthers, initially scheduled for Feb. 23, is now Wed., Feb. 24.
- Sabres at Penguins, initially scheduled for March 27, is now Fri., March 26.
- Bruins at Capitals, initially scheduled for April 11, is now Sat. April 10.
- Penguins at Sabres, initially scheduled for April 20, is now Mon., April 19.
- Panthers at Lightning, initially scheduled for Might 4, is now Tues., March 16
After Carolina’s video games have been postponed in January, the next video games have been additionally switched:
- Blue Jackets at Hurricanes, initially scheduled for Feb. 16, is now Mon., Feb. 15.
- Panthers at Lightning, initially scheduled for Feb. 16, is now Mon., Feb. 15.
- Hurricanes at Lightning, initially scheduled for Feb. 22, is now Wed., Feb. 24
With the postponement of three Golden Knights video games, the next video games have been modified as nicely:
- Geese at Sharks, initially scheduled for Feb.13, is now Tues., April 6
- Golden Knights at Geese, initially scheduled for Feb. 26, is now Fri., April 23.
- Blues at Sharks, initially scheduled for Feb. 26, is now Mon., March 8.
After the Avalanche and Wild have been shut down for every week, the NHL adjusted the schedule and moved two video games from March to February:
- Coyotes at Blues, initially scheduled for March 29, is now Sat., Feb. 6.
- Coyotes at Blues, initially scheduled for March 31, is now Mon., Feb. 8.
With a lot of groups shut down, on Feb. 9, the NHL shifted one other recreation and now the Blues and Coyotes will play seven straight video games towards one another.
- Blues at Coyotes, initially scheduled for April 15, is now Fri., Feb. 12
On Feb. 16, the NHL introduced the shifted of 30 video games on the 2021 schedule (29 date modifications, one is a time change).
The NHL introduced the rescheduling, or shifting of begin instances, for a lot of video games on Feb. 23.
Extra schedule modifications have been introduced on March 28, together with seeing a lot of video games set for Might 10.