NHL postpones Tuesday’s Hurricanes-Predators game

[UPDATE: The NHL has now postponed Carolina’s next two games against Florida.]

Tuesday’s game between the Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes has been postponed. According to the NHL, the decision “was made out of an abundance of caution to ensure the health and safety of players, coaches and game day personnel and in consultation with medical experts.”

The two teams played Monday night with the Hurricanes winning 4-2.

The NHL’s initial COVID-19 report released last week showed 27 players from nine teams tested positive, including 17 Stars players. Monday’s daily report listed Jordan Staal and Mikael Granlund as the only players from Carolina and Nashville with COVID-related absences.

An explanation of the daily report from the league:

Such “COVID Protocol Related Absences” can be the result of a number of factors including, among others: (1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol.

This is the second time a postponement has affected the 2020-21 NHL schedule. The Dallas Stars have yet to play a game after six players and two staffers tested positive for COVID-19 two weeks ago. They are set to open their season Friday at home against the Predators.

A rescheduled date for the Hurricanes and Predators will be announced at a later time.

UPDATE: Staal and Granlund were listed on Tuesday’s report. Joining them are Warren Foegele, Jordan Martinook, Jaccob Slavin, and Teuvo Teravainen.

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Sean Leahy is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at [e-mail] or follow him on Twitter @Sean_Leahy.