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

*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.

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