The Latest: NHL postpones Oilers-Canadiens game

Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak (88) celebrates his goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Thursday, March 18, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes) (Jeffrey T. Barnes, Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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The NHL has postponed Edmonton's game at Montreal after two Canadiens players were placed in the league’s COVID-19 protocol.

Forwards Joel Armia and Jesperi Kotkaniemi became Montreal’s first players to enter the protocol since the season began on Jan. 13.

The postponement of the game was the 38th overall this season for coronavirus-related reasons, and first to involve the seven-team all-Canadian North Division.

The league listed 10 players in the protocol, with the Los Angeles Kings still awaiting their test results. The 10 players listed matches the most since Feb. 21.

Rangers defenseman Brett Howden was placed in the protocol, joining teammate Phillip Di Giuseppe, who has been listed for nine straight days.

The Bruins continue to have five players listed since Friday.

A total of 157 NHL players have now spent at least one day in the COVID-19 protocol this season.

Calgary is the only team to not have a player listed.

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Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney says the team is on schedule to return from its COVID-19 shutdown on Thursday night against the New York Islanders. The game also would be the first pro sporting event in Massachusetts with paying fans in the crowd since last March.

The NHL on Friday postponed two Bruins games after four more Boston players entered the COVID protocol, for a total of five. They are: David Pastrnak, David Krejci, Sean Kuraly, Jake DeBrusk and Craig Smith. Games against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday and the New York Islanders on Tuesday were to be rescheduled.

Sweeney said the players were driven separately back to Boston from Buffalo after that game was postponed.

Assuming there are no more positive tests, the Bruins would play at the TD Garden with 12% capacity, or about 2,100 fans.

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