NHL schedule changes 2021: List of games postponed, rescheduled because of COVID-19

Jackie Spiegel

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NHL schedule changes 2021: List of games postponed, rescheduled because of COVID-19 image

The NHL announced on Dec. 20 that the 2021 regular season was a go and would begin on Jan. 13.

The schedule, a 56-game condensed sprint to the Stanley Cup playoffs, was devised with the expectation that some games would have to be postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun: "The key word this season is 'nimble.'" The rise in cases in the United States and Canada was expected, unfortunately, to impact games.

On Jan. 8, that expectation came to fruition after the Stars announced six players and two staff members tested positive for the coronavirus. The team shut down its training facility as a precaution, and because the news came six days before the start of Dallas' season, its first three games were postponed.

Also on Jan. 8, the Blue Jackets announced the same day that they "held a number of players out of" the team's practice that day "out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with NHL COVID-19 protocols." The team did not yet postpone any games.

As of Feb. 2, a total of 18 games have been postponed due to COVID-19 impacting at least one club. 

NHL games impacted by COVID-19

Date of game ppd. Game Reschedule date
Thu., Jan. 14 Stars at Panthers Mon., Feb. 22
Fri., Jan. 15 Stars at Panthers Mon., May 3
Sun., Jan. 17 Stars at Lightning Tues., May 4
Tues., Jan. 19 Stars at Lightning Mon., May 10
Tues., Jan. 19 Hurricanes at Predators* Tues., March 2
Thurs., Jan. 21 Panthers at Hurricanes Wed., Feb. 17
Sat., Jan. 23 Panthers at Hurricanes Sun., March 7
Tues., Jan. 26 Lightning at Hurricanes Mon., Feb. 22
Thurs., Jan. 28 Blues at Golden Knights Mon, March 22
Mon., Feb. 1 Golden Knights at Sharks Sun., Feb. 13
Tues., Feb. 2 Devils at Penguins Sun., March 21
Tues., Feb. 2 Sabres at Islanders Mon., Feb. 22
Wed., Feb. 3 Golden Knights at Sharks Thurs., Feb. 25
Thurs., Feb. 4 Devils at Penguins Tues., April 20
Thurs., Feb. 4 Sabres at Islanders Thurs., March 4
Thurs., Feb. 4 Wild at Avalanche Wed., Feb. 24
Sat., Feb. 6 Rangers at Devils Thurs., March 4
Sat., Feb. 6 Sabres at Bruins Sat., March 27
Sat., Feb. 6 Coyotes at Wild Tues., March 16
Sat., Feb. 6 Avalanche at Blues Wed., April 14
Sun., Feb. 7 Avalanche at Blues Tues., April 20
Sun., Feb. 7 Coyotes at Wild Wed., April 14
Mon., Feb. 8 Sabres at Bruins Tues., April 13
Tues., Feb. 9 Blues at Wild Mon., April 12
Tues., Feb. 9 Flyers at Capitals Tues., April 13
Tues., Feb. 9 Coyotes at Avalanche Wed., March 31
Thurs., Feb. 11 Coyotes at Avalanche Mon., April 12
Thurs., Feb. 11 Capitals at Sabres Mon., March 15
Thurs., Feb. 11 Blues at Wild Thurs., March 25
Thurs., Feb. 11 Devils at Flyers Sun., April 25
Sat., Feb. 13 Capitals at Sabres Fri., April 9
Sat., Feb. 13 Wild at Kings Fri., April 23
Sat., Feb. 13 Devils at Flyers Mon., May 10
Sun., Feb. 14 Flyers at Rangers Thurs., April 22
Mon., Feb. 15 Devils at Bruins Sun., March 7
Thurs., Feb. 25 Golden Knights at Sharks Fri., April 23
Sat., March 20 Bruins at Sabres Tues., April 20
Mon., March 22 Oilers at Canadiens^ Tues., March 30
Tues., March 23 Islanders at Bruins Mon., May 10
Wed., March 24 Oilers at Canadiens Mon., May 10
Fri., March 26 Oilers at Canadiens Tues., May 11
Sun., March 28 Senators at Canadiens Sat., April 17
Wed., March 31 Flames at Canucks Wed., April 21
Sat., April 3 Canucks at Oilers Tues., May 4
Sun., April 4 Canucks at Jets Mon., May 10
Tues., April 6 Canucks at Jets Tues., May 11
Thurs., April 8 Canucks at Flames Sun., May 16
Sat., April 10 Canucks at Flames Mon., May 3
Mon., April 12 Canucks at Oilers Sat., May 8
Wed., April 14 Canucks at Oilers Sat., May 15
Fri., April 16 Kings at Avalanche  
Fri., April 16 Oilers at Canucks  
Sun., April 18 Kings at Avalanche  

*Hurricanes at Predators was the first NHL game to be postponed on the day of.

^First North Division game postponed.

MORE: Canucks shut down — Timeline, variant concerns, schedule, what's next

Due to Dallas' games being postponed in January, the following games were also impacted:

  • Panthers at Red Wings, originally scheduled for Feb. 21, is now Sat., Feb. 20.
  • Stars at Panthers, originally scheduled for Feb. 23, is now Wed., Feb. 24.
  • Sabres at Penguins, originally scheduled for March 27, is now Fri., March 26.
  • Bruins at Capitals, originally scheduled for April 11, is now Sat. April 10.
  • Penguins at Sabres, originally scheduled for April 20, is now Mon., April 19.
  • Panthers at Lightning, originally scheduled for May 4, is now Tues., March 16

After Carolina's games were postponed in January, the following games were also switched:

  • Blue Jackets at Hurricanes, originally scheduled for Feb. 16, is now Mon., Feb. 15.
  • Panthers at Lightning, originally scheduled for Feb. 16, is now Mon., Feb. 15.
  • Hurricanes at Lightning, originally scheduled for Feb. 22, is now Wed., Feb. 24

With the postponement of three Golden Knights games, the following games were changed as well:

  • Ducks at Sharks, originally scheduled for Feb.13, is now Tues., April 6
  • Golden Knights at Ducks, originally scheduled for Feb. 26, is now Fri., April 23.
  • Blues at Sharks, originally scheduled for Feb. 26, is now Mon., March 8.

After the Avalanche and Wild were shut down for a week, the NHL adjusted the schedule and moved two games from March to February:

  • Coyotes at Blues, originally scheduled for March 29, is now Sat., Feb. 6.
  • Coyotes at Blues, originally scheduled for March 31, is now Mon., Feb. 8.

With a number of teams shut down, on Feb. 9, the NHL shifted another game and now the Blues and Coyotes will play seven straight games against each other. 

  • Blues at Coyotes, originally scheduled for April 15, is now Fri., Feb. 12

On Feb. 16, the NHL announced the shifted of 30 games on the 2021 schedule (29 date changes, one is a time change).

The NHL announced the rescheduling, or shifting of start times, for a number of games on Feb. 23.

More schedule changes were announced on March 28, including seeing a number of games set for May 10.

With the Canucks shut down on March 31 due to positive COVID-19 tests, and eight games postponed, the NHL announced on April 10 a number of changes to the entire North Division. The Canadian teams will now end the regular season on May 16.

The North Division's season is extended to May 19.

Jackie Spiegel