The Boston Bruins have placed head coach Bruce Cassidy in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol, the team announced Tuesday.
Someone entering COVID-19 protocol does not necessarily mean they have contracted the virus. The team did not cancel practice on Tuesday.
The Bruins have won five of their last seven. GM Don Sweeney said Tuesday that Cassidy, 56, had minor symptoms and that assistant Joe Sacco will take his place behind the bench.
According to NHL rules on positive COVID tests for this season, it means Cassidy must isolate from the team for at least 10 days and get a doctor’s approval to return.
The Bruins hold an 11-7-0 record on the season. Boston’s next game is at home on Tuesday night against the Detroit Red Wings.
The Bruins then visit Nashville on Thursday and return home to host Tampa Bay on Saturday.
In the same vein, Sweeney mentioned during media availability that the Bruins are unable to call up reinforcements from the AHL’s Providence Bruins because of a COVID outbreak on that team. Reports from the area are indicating the team has shut down operations for two days.
The NHL has postponed five games so far this season – three for the Ottawa Senators and two for the New York Islanders – but the league has not seen widespread disruption of its schedule like it did last season.
–With file from The Associated Press
