GARRIOCH: Ottawa Senators Season Postponed to Try to Stop COVID-19 Outbreak

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The Ottawa Senators have finally received a much-needed break from the NHL.

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With 10 players and associate coach Jack Capuano on the COVID-19 protocol, the NHL is expected to confirm Monday the Senators’ games against the New Jersey Devils on the road Tuesday along with Thursday’s visit from the Nashville Predators and Saturday against the New York Rangers. all postponed.

The Senators were scheduled to fly to Newark on Monday afternoon to face the Devils, but that was called off after the club canceled its fourth consecutive practice as a result of the update. Winger Drake Batherson was the last player added to the COVID-19 protocol just hours before the club’s 4-0 loss to the Calgary Flames on Sunday.

The belief is that the senators will stay off the ice until the weekend. The expectation is for Ottawa to return to action next Monday night against the Colorado Avalanche on the road, but that may change.

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The NHL has been reluctant to postpone games, but didn’t have much choice when it comes to senators because this outbreak shows no signs of stopping. The decision was made in consultation with the NHL Players Association.

Batherson became the 10th player to be inserted into the COVID-19 protocol. He joins Austin Watson, Nick Golden, Josh Brown, Connor Brown, Dylan Gambrell, Matt Murray, Nikita Zaitsev, Victor Mete and Alex Formenton along with associate coach Jack Capuano.

Senators have now had seven consecutive days in which they have tested positive for COVID-19. The club only has nine players left in Belleville who are under contract with the organization.

Ottawa defender Michael Del Zotto spoke of the difficulty this is causing mentally in the locker room because the problem with COVID-19 is that it is known how easily it spreads.

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“Some guys have symptoms and some don’t, so I’m not going to go into details,” Del Zotto said Sunday night. “But when you come to the track, you almost cross your fingers every day hoping to end up with something negative. It has been a shame and a good learning experience for everyone. “

“We’re just trying to keep everyone safe, not just the players, but our families as well. It is also a great opportunity for the guys to learn the mental side of the game and be prepared for what is out of their control. We are trying to learn from what is on ice, but also from what is outside the ice. “

A big problem has been testing for Senators because one test produces positives and then another PCR test returns negative. For example, Batherson tested positive Saturday morning and then negative with a PCR test taken shortly after. An antigen test in the afternoon produced another negative, so he played Saturday and had four points in the club’s 6-3 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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Then, on Sunday, they did an antigen test that came back positive for what was placed on the COVID-19 protocol. Players are tested up to three times a day, while the staff has a CRP test a day.

“The scary part is how quickly it changes,” Del Zotto said. “We do tests several times a day, there are negative tests and then the next thing you know is that someone is positive.

“Obviously, this is not a joke. I cannot emphasize enough the priority on the players and the staff, and their families. The boys have small children at home and, although hockey is our job and our business, there are more important things than hockey and that is our health. I hope everyone is on the right track. “

Once a player is placed on the COVID-19 protocol, that person is isolated from the team for 10 days. Watson was the first player included on the list on November 5 to be able to join the Senators on Tuesday. By the end of the week, the club could have six or seven players in time to embark on a four-game road trip that begins Monday in Colorado.

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Since the outbreak occurred, Senators have re-entered a bubble for management, staff and players to try to keep it under control. Players were not allowed to leave the team hotel in Boston last week before losing a 3-2 decision to the Bruins on Tuesday night.

Two players, Josh Brown and Victor Mete, tested positive while in Boston, were placed in protocol and had to make the seven-hour trip back from Beantown because the club couldn’t risk putting them on the team plane.

No, the Senators are not the first team to deal with COVID-19, but they are hit the hardest with half the players on their list in protocol. The San Jose Sharks, Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues are among the teams that have been affected by COVID-19 this season.

The NHL didn’t want to become the first major league sport to shut down due to a COVID-19 outbreak, but this has been going on for too long with the Senators for the league to continue to turn a blind eye.

This should have been done earlier, but in this case it is better late than never.

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Twitter: @sungarrioch