NHL’s Calgary Flames postpone games through Dec.16 amid COVID-19 outbreak

The NHL announced that three Calgary Flames games will be postponed through Dec.16 amid an outbreak of COVID-19 on the team, during which six players tested positive within a 24-hour period.

It’s possible more games could also be postponed, the league said.

“The National Hockey League announced today that as a result of six Calgary Flames Players and one staff member entering the NHL’s COVID Protocol within a 24-hour period, concern with continued spread, and the likelihood of additional positive cases in the coming days, the team’s games will be postponed at least through Thursday, Dec. 16.,” the league said in a statement on Monday. 

The six players on the league’s COVID protocol list include forwards Elias Lindholm, Andrew Mangiapane, Brad Richardson, and Adam Ružička and defensemen Christopher Tanev and Nikita Zadorov, according to the Associated Press. 

SCHEDULE UPDATE: @NHLFlames games postponed at least through December 16. https://t.co/F4ArYpFFPh pic.twitter.com/c34OrnpIqM

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 13, 2021

The postponed games include Monday’s contest against the Chicago Blackhawks, Tuesday’s contest against the Nashville Predators, and Thursday’s contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

The league also said the team’s training facilities have closed until further notice and it “is in the process of reviewing and revising the Flames regular season schedule.”

“The Flames organization has followed, and will continue to follow, all recommended guidelines aimed at protecting the health and safety of its players, staff and community at large as set by the NHL, local, provincial and national agencies,” the league said. 

The league postponed three Ottawa Senators games last month amid an outbreak on that team.