New Jersey goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood is among the 10 members of the Devils on the COVID list. The team postponed its three games this week. Bill Kostroun/Associated Press
The NHL has announced the New Jersey Devils have been forced to postpone three games this week after four more players tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.
New Jersey was scheduled to play the Penguins on Tuesday and Thursday in Pittsburgh. They also had a home game against the Rangers on Saturday afternoon.
The Devils played back-to-back games against the Sabres in Buffalo on Saturday and Sunday. Center Travis Zajac missed Saturday’s game after a positive test and forward Kyle Palmieri did not play Sunday after a positive test.
On Monday, Andreas Johnsson, Janne Kuokkanen, Michael McLeod and Pavel Zacha all tested positive. They played in the games over the weekend.
New Jersey now has 10 players on the COVID list, including No. 1 goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood.
Two players on the list, defenseman Sami Vatanen and goaltender Aaron Dell, are isolating after signing with the team.
WILLIE O’REE: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he keeps a signed hockey stick from “living legend” Willie O’Ree as a constant reminder of the work that remains to combat racism. Trudeau added himself to a long list of people inspired by the life and career of O’Ree, who in January 1958 became the first Black man to play in the NHL.
Trudeau and O’Ree participated Monday in a virtual assembly with Canadian students, marking both the first day of Black History Month and the Canadian release of a new documentary about O’Ree.
Trudeau says he keeps the stick O’Ree gave him during a visit to Parliament Hill in 2018 next to his desk – both as testament to O’Ree’s perseverance and a daily reminder that neither Canada, nor the game it loves, is inclusive enough.
The 85-year-old O’Ree played professional hockey for more than two decades, including 45 games for the Boston Bruins in 1958 and 1961. O’Ree, who has been the NHL’s director of youth development and diversity ambassador since 1998, says any young person with a big dream needs to remember the only path to success is through hard work.
RANGERS: Tony DeAngelo went unclaimed Monday after the New York Rangers put him on waivers. It was not immediately clear what the Rangers would do with the 25-year-old defensemen who remains under contract with them.
The Rangers waived DeAngelo on Sunday less than four months since re-signing him to a $9.6 million, two-year contract. DeAngelo was on the ice for four Penguins goals in an overtime loss Saturday night and has a minus-6 rating this season.
Coach David Quinn declined to say whether the move to waive DeAngelo was solely performance-related. That the Rangers took such an aggressive move to attempt to cut ties with DeAngelo speaks volumes about the 2014 first-round pick’s fall in the eyes of the front office and coaching staff. He had been a healthy scratch earlier this season, and Quinn said journeyman Anthony Bitetto would replace DeAngelo in New York’s lineup.
The Athletic and New York Post reported that DeAngelo was involved in a postgame “altercation” outside the locker room Saturday night with goaltender Alexandar Georgiev. Quinn said he wouldn’t address “rumors.”
“This isn’t about one incident,” he said. “It’s not about one thing. This is a situation that the organization felt was best at this current time.”
MONDAY’S GAMES
CANADIENS 6, CANUCKS 2: Jeff Petry had two goals and an assist, leading Montreal past visiting Vancouver.
It’s the third time in less than two weeks that the Canadiens have routed the Canucks. The teams meet again Tuesday in the second of a consecutive night, two-game set. Nick Suzuki and Artturi Lehkonen each had a goal and an assist for Montreal, and Brendan Gallagher and Tyler Toffoli added scores.
LIGHTNING 5, PREDATORS 2: Steven Stamkos’ goal made him the franchise leader in power-play points, Yanni Gourde scored twice and Bay remained perfect on home ice with a victory over Nashville.
Brayden Point and Ondrej Palat also scored for the Lightning. Stamkos’ goal in the second gave him 301 points on the power play to pass Marty St. Louis for most in team history. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves as Tampa Bay improved to 4-0 at home.
RANGERS 3, PENGUINS 1: Chris Kreider scored a power-play goal in the third period, as New York beat visiting Pittsburgh.
Artemi Panarin had a goal and two assists, Kevin Rooney scored and Igor Shesterkin made 25 saves as New York snapped a three-game losing streak against Pittsburgh.
Jason Zucker scored and Casey DeSmith made 21 saves for the Penguins in their fifth road loss this season.
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