Three Ottawa Senators games postponed amid COVID-19 outbreak
The NHL has postponed the next three Ottawa Senators games as the team continues to deal with a COVID-19 outbreak.
The league and team announced Monday its next three games—Tuesday night against the New Jersey Devils, Thursday against the Nashville Predators and Saturday against the New York Rangers—have been postponed.
The Senators have 10 players and one coach in the COVID-19 protocol. Forward Drake Batherson was the latest to test positive on Sunday. Austin Watson, Nick Holden, Josh Brown, Connor Brown, Dylan Gambrell, Matt Murray, Victor Mete, Alex Formenton and Nikita Zaitsev are also in the protocol, as is associate coach Jack Capuano.
The decision was made after "evidence of continued spread in recent days," the NHL said in a statement. "As an appropriate precaution, the team's training facilities have been closed, effective immediately, and will remain closed for players until further notice."
The Senators are the first NHL team to have games postponed this season because of a COVID-19 outbreak.
“The health and safety of the local community, the venue's patrons and the organization's staff and players is Senators Sports & Entertainment’s highest priority,” the Senators said in a statement. “Rescheduled dates for each of the three games are to be determined.”
The team's practice Monday was cancelled. Players were scheduled to fly to New Jersey Monday afternoon, but instead are remaining in Ottawa.
The Senators have said all their players and staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The outbreak began 10 days ago, with the team forced to call up several minor-league players to put together a full roster.
The Senators say they will honour tickets for Thursday and Saturday's rescheduled home games whenever they are played.
“Patrons with tickets to either or both of the Nov. 18 and Nov. 20 home games are encouraged to hold on to their tickets until rescheduled dates are announced,” the release said. “Previously purchased tickets will be honoured on the new dates.”
The Senators have lost seven of their last eight games. After the postponements, their next scheduled game is Monday, Nov. 22 on the road against the Colorado Avalanche.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.