Jacob MarkstromB次元官网网址檚 routine is pretty simple in the NHLB次元官网网址檚 COVID-19 era.

The Calgary Flames goalie goes to the rink and gets tested before hitting the ice for practice. When thatB次元官网网址檚 done, he heads home to make food, watch TV and go to bed.

Rinse. Repeat.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 pretty much what life is currently like for players across the North Division B次元官网网址� a one-time-only circuit featuring all seven Canadian franchises borne out of necessity due to pandemic travel restrictions.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a lot easier with the rules and the restrictions we have here in Canada to stay healthy,B次元官网网址� Markstrom said.

The same, however, canB次元官网网址檛 be said south of the border, where coronavirus infection rates are much higher and government-mandated public heath measures often more lax.

At one point this week, five NHL teams in the U.S. were sitting idle because of the leagueB次元官网网址檚 COVID-19 protocols.

The New Jersey Devils wonB次元官网网址檛 play again until at least Tuesday, the Buffalo Sabres and Minnesota Wild are off until Thursday, while the Colorado Avalanche wonB次元官网网址檛 see action again until Feb. 14. The Vegas Golden Knights had four games postponed before returning to the ice Friday.

Players and coaches in Canada are thankful the story is much different here, but are also aware itB次元官网网址檚 no time to let their guard down.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e still got to be cautious and take the precautions seriously, and make sure weB次元官网网址檙e not doing anything stupid to put ourselves at risk,B次元官网网址� Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said. B次元官网网址淟uckily our divisionB次元官网网址檚 been good with it. LetB次元官网网址檚 just hope that can continue.B次元官网网址�

All told, 26 games south of the border have been postponed since the season opened Jan. 13, impacting 16 of the leagueB次元官网网址檚 24 U.S.-based teams. There are currently 41 players deemed B次元官网网址渦navailableB次元官网网址� on the leagueB次元官网网址檚 protocol list B次元官网网址� being included doesnB次元官网网址檛 necessarily mean thereB次元官网网址檚 been a positive test B次元官网网址� but only one is from a Canadian team, Winnipeg Jets centre Pierre-Luc Dubois, whoB次元官网网址檚 in the final stages of his quarantine after a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Roughly 100 players have appeared on the COVID-19 list just over three weeks into the season, but NHL commission Gary Bettman said in a statement this week fewer than half had confirmed positive tests.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been fortunate in the (North) Division,B次元官网网址� Toronto Maple Leafs winger Zach Hyman said. B次元官网网址淲e have to stay diligent.B次元官网网址�

Teams are only allowed at the hotel, arena and airport when on the road during a 56-game season that features division-only play, but the situation on the ground is completely different in Canada compared to the many parts of the U.S.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a lot easier for us to have a clean sheet,B次元官网网址� Flames defenceman Christopher Tanev said. B次元官网网址淲e canB次元官网网址檛 really do anything. ItB次元官网网址檚 a pretty full lockdown.B次元官网网址�

Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said the issues with some American teams B次元官网网址� on top of games being postponed, practice facilities are also shuttered B次元官网网址� is a reminder the virus remains a threat across the board.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got to be responsible despite the fact here in Canada weB次元官网网址檝e done a good job of avoiding (similar) situations,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e got a lot of friends inside the league and outside the league in the U.S.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e trying to manage it the best they can.B次元官网网址�

Montreal Canadiens winger Paul Byron, also his teamB次元官网网址檚 NHL PlayersB次元官网网址� Association representative, feels fortunate to only be playing in Canada this season.

B次元官网网址淥ur governmentB次元官网网址檚 done a really good job trying to limit (the virus) and eliminate exposures,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淥ther than going to the rink and going home, thereB次元官网网址檚 really nowhere else to go right now. It makes it pretty easy as a hockey player to not put yourself at risk.

B次元官网网址淲e have a really good chance here in Canada to keep playing.B次元官网网址�

As a husband and father of three, Oilers forward Kyle Turris said his mind is at more at ease playing in the North Division.

B次元官网网址淵ou still have the concern of the virus,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut it just seems like in the U.S. (the virus) spreads more and at a faster rate, and itB次元官网网址檚 a little less cautious.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 something you consider and think about, at times, having a family.B次元官网网址�

Byron, meanwhile, added he has sympathy for players in the U.S.

B次元官网网址淲here some of those teams are, the cases are really bad,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淓very time they leave their house theyB次元官网网址檙e unfortunately in a position to be exposed. WeB次元官网网址檙e pretty lucky to be here in Canada.B次元官网网址�

Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease expert at the University of Toronto who has advised the NHLPA during the pandemic, said higher case counts in the U.S. means players are slightly more at risk to get the virus, even when following league protocols.

B次元官网网址淵ou can do everything right and still lose,B次元官网网址� he said, noting a playerB次元官网网址檚 wife or child could pick up the virus in the community. B次元官网网址淭he risk of that is just going to be higher wherever thereB次元官网网址檚 a greater community burden and, sadly, thereB次元官网网址檚 a greater community burden in the United States.

B次元官网网址淭hat doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean that CanadaB次元官网网址檚 zero risk B次元官网网址� everyone has to be careful. ItB次元官网网址檚 just a higher risk where thereB次元官网网址檚 a higher community burden.B次元官网网址�

Apart from the 213 pages of health measure unveiled before the start of the season, the NHL revised some of its rules this week.

The glass behind the benches has been removed for better air flow, players and coaches arenB次元官网网址檛 allowed inside arenas until one hour 45 minutes before puck drop unless theyB次元官网网址檙e receiving treatment for injuries, and all team meetings must be virtual.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e got to roll with the punches,B次元官网网址� Nugent-Hopkins said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not a normal season. ItB次元官网网址檚 not a normal anything right now.

B次元官网网址淵ou have to make a few sacrifices.B次元官网网址�

Jets head coach Paul Maurice said having a couple of players from his team on the protocol list last month was a wake-up call.

B次元官网网址淚t keeps everybody on their toes,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not perfect, but we try to be.B次元官网网址�

Byron said he expects further measures from the league in the coming weeks and months.

B次元官网网址淭hings are going to tighten and protocols are going to change,B次元官网网址� he said.

Vancouver Canucks defenceman Nate Schmidt, whose former teammates in Vegas were recently sidelined, said itB次元官网网址檚 difficult for players to ramp back up after extended time off.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a bummer,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e playing and youB次元官网网址檙e in that routine and all of the sudden, youB次元官网网址檙e out, youB次元官网网址檙e done. It doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter if you had (the virus) or not.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just a lot of uncertainty.B次元官网网址�

Tanev said the challenge for North Division clubs moving forward will come when some restrictions are inevitably relaxed in different jurisdictions.

B次元官网网址淎s stuff opens B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 going to be harder for us,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got to keep the same discipline.B次元官网网址�

Canadiens head coach Claude Julien said that while the virus will continue hanging over the schedule B次元官网网址� even north of the border B次元官网网址� his team and its six opponents are in a good spot.

B次元官网网址淐OVIDB次元官网网址檚 everywhere right now,B次元官网网址� said the 60-year-old. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been fortunate enough to stay away from it.

B次元官网网址淓very day we keep crossing our fingers that it keeps going that way.B次元官网网址�

Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press

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