NHL COVID protocol-related absences: 05/22/21

Each day, the NHL will publicly release the list of players who are unavailable to their respective teams due to being in COVID-19 protocol. Here is Saturday’s list:

St. Louis – David Perron, Nathan Walker

As a reminder, inclusion on this list does not mean that a player has tested positive for coronavirus or even that he has been confirmed as a close contact to another positive person. Included in the NHL’s list of possible reasons for someone being on the list are the following:

(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol; (3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol; (4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or; (5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol

Players removed Saturday: 

The Blues are still without Perron and Walker, although Jake Walman did exit the protocol Friday and warmed up with the team. Unfortunately for the Blues, St. Louis is barely hanging on in its first-round series against the Avalanche and it might not matter even if Perron is back in time for Sunday’s game. The timing of his positive test couldn’t have been worse as the Blues were already in tough against the powerhouse Colorado team and desperately need their leading scorer.