The Chicago Blackhawks placed starting goaltender Marc-André Fleury in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocols Monday, while the team’s next two games are postponed.
Fleury is the second Hawk to enter the protocols this month after defenseman Calvin de Haan went in a week ago. De Haan was removed Monday.
The Hawks called up goalie Collin Delia from the Rockford IceHogs and assigned forward Brett Connolly to the taxi squad.
“Obviously losing a guy like Fleury, it’s not easy,” coach Derek King said. “But there’s an opportunity for (Kevin Lankinen) to get more games in and step up. ... If (the schedule) works out, maybe Deals gets a game in and there’s an opportunity for him also.”
Fleury has been key to the Hawks’ turnaround since Jeremy Colliton’s firing, going 8-3-1 with a .933 save percentage. He’s one of the latest NHL players to be affected by the outbreaks spreading throughout the league.
“Pretty unfortunate circumstances,” Delia said. “You don’t want to see anyone get sick or hurt. Definitely happy to be here, do a job and looking forward to competing every day and see what opportunity comes my way.”
The NHL on Monday postponed three more games, including the Hawks’ road game Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets. The league also shelved a home-and-home series Wednesday and Friday between the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars, bringing the total number of postponed games this season to 70.
The league previously postponed all of Monday’s schedule, and Sunday night it postponed three additional games, including the Hawks’ home game Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The league and players union also brought back taxi squads Sunday, which they used last season to help mitigate mass absences due to COVID-19. Teams are allowed to assign up to six players.
