NHL Postpones Colorado Avalanche Games Through Holiday Break Due To COVID Outbreak

DENVER (CBS4) - Less than 24 hours after the Colorado Avalanche took to the ice with a depleted roster against the Nashville Predators, the NHL has shut the team down through December 26th.

The Avs' next four games have been officially postponed to later dates. That means games against Tampa Bay (Dec. 18 at home), Detroit (away, Dec. 20), Buffalo (away, Dec. 22), and Boston (away, Dec. 23) will be played at later dates.

On Thursday, three Avalanche players - Andre Burakovsky, J.T. Compher, and Devon Toews - were put on the NHL's COVID protocol list ahead of their game against Nashville. Minutes before the game, two more - Darcy Kuemper and Cale Makar - were added to the list. Avs defenseman Jack Johnson did not see action for the first 14 minutes of the game while he waited on the result of his test.