There's good news in the NHL's mumps outbreak: Pittsburgh Penguins forward Brandon Sutter does not have the disease.
But … wait for it … three other players were confirmed to have the illness that normally occurs during childhood, according to media reports.
One of them is Sutter teammate Steve Downie, a notorious tough guy.
Also stricken are Penguins backup goalie Thomas Greiss and New Jersey Devils forward Patrik Elias. GMs for those teams made announcements Friday, the day before NHL teams return to action from their two-day Christmas break.
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The Penguins now have reported five cases of the mumps, whose victims included Sidney Crosby. Crosby was first, with forward Beau Bennett and defenseman Olli Maatta after him, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.
The Penguins face the Washington Capitals on Saturday, while the Devils visit the New York Rangers. Stricken players are in isolation until no longer contagious.
New cases bring the NHL's mumps outbreak total to 19 players. Like the Penguins, the Minnesota Wild reported five cases.
In addition to Elias, the Devils lost the services of Travis Zajac and Adam Larsson.
Other cases hit players from the Rangers and Ducks.
The Penguins had been actively trying to halt the disease's spread. Players were no longer allowed to share water bottles, and equipment was being steriled, according to KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh.
Mumps is spread by bodily fluids including saliva.