The Islanders, as always, are focused on the next game. That happens to be against Vegas on Sunday afternoon at UBS Arena.
But the NHL-wide COVID-19 outbreak has raised into question how many next games there will be in the short term. The league announced on Saturday the Bruins and the Predators have joined the Flames, Panthers and Avalanche in having their schedules shut down through the planned, three-day NHL holiday break starting on Thursday.
Approximiately 70 players — 10% of the 700 league-wide — are in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol and the number of games postponed this season has climbed past 20.