As part of the league-wide one-day extension of the winter break and COVID pause, the New York Islanders had one more game postponed. That game versus the Sabres, originally scheduled in Buffalo tonight, was part of that one additional day of postponements.
That move was done so that all teams could evaluate their COVID situations coming out of the break on Sunday. After the Isles did that, they announced that four more players have entered protocol (though thankfully, Mathew Barzal is back): Cal Clutterbuck, Anthony Beauvillier, Zach Parise and Oliver Wahlstrom. Other teams fared worse, resulting in three more games this week being postponed.