The Philadelphia Flyers were set to play the Washington Capitals on December 21st. However, due to a covid outbreak with the Capitals, the game was postponed.
If the game would have happened, the Flyers would have been without one key forward.
Sean Couturier, who appeared on the NHLs covid list today, would have missed the game.
On Sunday, Couturier was placed to the covid list retroactive to December 21st. Ryan Ellis, who is skating again per GM Chuck Fletcher, is also now on the list.
Hence, with the two additions, Sean Couturier & Ryan Ellis, the Flyers now have five players on the list. Couturier & Ellis joined Morgan Frost, Max Willman, & Kevin Hayes on the list.
After the Flyers optional practice on Sunday, interim head coach Mike Yeo gave some hope for the players on the list. But, mainly for the three who were on the list pre-Christmas break.
“I do know that those guys, I believe, are ready to come off the covid list,” Mike Yeo said. “I’m not 100 percent sure on that. I want to be careful what I say here. But, my expectation is that these guys will be available for us. We’ll know more on that tomorrow.”
Per NHL protocol, for a player to come off the list, said player must produce two negative covid tests in a span of 24-hours.
With Sunday being the first testing day for the NHL since Tuesday, players on the list could not be cleared & taken off til Monday. Which, interim head coach Mike Yeo hinted at on Sunday.
Thus, if Morgan Frost (put on list 12/14), Max Willman (put on list 12/18), & Kevin Hayes (put on list 12/20) all tested negative today, they are eligible to come off the list tomorrow. With a negative test on Monday, they will be eligible to come off the list.
With the Flyers headed to the west coast on Tuesday, time is ticking for the Flyers on the list. Especially with NHL protocol prohibiting players from traveling with the team if on the list.
Therefore, if any Flyers player is still on the list on Tuesday, they will more than likely miss Wednesday’s game vs Seattle.
PHOTO CREDIT: Len Redkoles – Getty Images
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