The NHL will stop testing asymptomatic players, coaches and staff who are fully vaccinated following the All-Star break in early February, saying coronavirus cases continue to decline across the league.

The league and PlayersB次元官网网址� Association announced the protocol changes Tuesday. The current policy will remain in place until the All-Star break begins Feb. 3.

Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod BrindB次元官网网址橝mour, who is expected to be behind the bench for the Metropolitan Division at All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas, called the change B次元官网网址渃ommon sense.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭he players have done all they can, done all their vaccinations B次元官网网址� all that stuff that they can do,B次元官网网址� BrindB次元官网网址橝mour said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know why they would be testing them, to be honest with you, if theyB次元官网网址檙e asymptomatic, so I agree with this decision. I think itB次元官网网址檚 a good one.B次元官网网址�

There will still be testing of asymptomatic individuals when it is needed for crossing the U.S.-Canada border. Testing will not be required at All-Star Weekend, with one negative result needed to return to team facilities after the break.

The 90-day testing B次元官网网址渉olidayB次元官网网址� for players, coaches and staff who recover from COVID-19 will remain in place. New York Islanders forward Matt Martin pointed out that with the playoffs a little over three months away, not testing asymptomatic players is a smart move that could keep rosters from being decimated at that time.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 a step in the right direction,B次元官网网址� Martin said. B次元官网网址淗opefully we can continue to move forward and get back to a normal way of life.B次元官网网址�

The NHL and NHLPA also agreed to keep the five-day isolation period that Dec. 29, a reduction from 10 after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control updated its virus guidance. The league and union will review protocols, including enhanced rules that are currently in place, on Jan. 31 as long as cases keep declining.

A total of 160 players went into COVID protocol from Dec. 29-Jan. 11 after 208 in the two weeks prior to the chance. All players on active rosters are vaccinated except for DetroitB次元官网网址檚 Tyler Bertuzzi.

So far this season, 104 games have been postponed, including several because of attendance restrictions in Canada. The league is expected to announce a wave of rescheduled games Wednesday, including many getting moved into the two weeks that had previously been set aside for , which will go ahead because of the .

Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat and Montreal Canadiens forwards Cole Caufield and Joel Armia went into protocol Tuesday. The Canucks are wrapping up a five-game U.S. road trip, and there is some concern about Horvat, goaltender Jaroslav Halak and forward Conor Garland not being able to cross the border for several more days.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not the border agent, so I have no idea what the process is,B次元官网网址� Vancouver coach Bruce Boudreau said Sunday. B次元官网网址淚t just seems like itB次元官网网址檚 one a day with our group. ItB次元官网网址檚 unfortunate.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擲tephen Whyno, The Associated Press