Evgeny Kuznetsov gets added to COVID protocol
COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon and this week has wreaked havoc on the sports world. The Washington Capitals are no different as some players are coming back from COVID protocol today while a new player gets added to the list in Evgeny Kuznetsov.
Kuznetsov got COVID twice last season in the middle of a down season. The second time he was on protocol he was also punished by Peter Laviolette along with Ilya Samsonov for showing up late to a team function.
Nic Dowd and Trevor Van Riemsdyk are the two Caps players who are coming off the COVID protocol list and into the lineup tonight against the Chicago Blackhawks. Kuznetsov joins Garnet Hathaway in being unavailable due to COVID protocol. Lars Eller was on COVID protocol a month ago.
Dowd and Van Riemsdyk are available tonight but since Canada’s rules about COVID and quarantine are different they won’t be available Friday night at the Winnipeg Jets. Hathaway did not even travel with the team to Chicago.
Kuznetsov’s case, his third battle with the virus, and it is the latest case on rising COVID cases across all sports. In the NHL, the Calgary Flames placed seven players, their head coach Darryl Sutter, two assistant coaches and seven staffers in COVID protocol. The Nashville Predators also announced that six players had been placed in COVID protocol.
The NHL is enhancing their protocols with the number of cases going up. The NHL Players Association will hold an executive board call tonight to address any questions and concerns about the enhanced protocols.
Trending. Washington Capitals vs. Blackhawks: Date, Time, Betting Odds, Streaming, More. light
Kuznetsov has nine goals and 21 assists for 30 points. He cooled off after a hot start but I think it also has to do with the injuries, COVID concerns and a bunch of moving pieces. The Caps take on the Chicago Blackhawks tonight.