Montreal Canadiens left wing Artturi Lehkonen David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports

Canadiens, Blue Jackets shut down until after holiday break

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 12/20/21

The pre-holiday game postponements across the NHL continued on Monday as the Montreal Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets joined the list of teams pausing all hockey activities until after the Christmas break.

The Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators, Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings announced pauses to their schedules over the weekend.

Columbus had already canceled its practice on Sunday after three players tested positive before scrapping its morning skate Monday as more players had to be added to the protocol. CBJ was scheduled to play the Buffalo Sabres Monday night.

Told only one of the six #CBJ players who have tested positive for COVID-19 are having symptoms, and they’re mild symptoms. The other five are asymptomatic.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) December 20, 2021

The Blue Jackets surely hope to resume operations following the holiday in time to host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 27. However, that game could also be pushed to a later date as several games involving travel over the U.S.-Canadian border were postponed over the past weekend.

#NHL has postponed the two games this week b/w #CBJ and #LetsGoBuffalo, but expectation is that 12/27 vs. Toronto #LeafsForever in Nationwide Arena will also get bumped to a later date because of the required border crossing by Leafs
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) December 20, 2021