Eyes On Isles
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Islanders game versus Buffalo Sabres possibly postponed

By Michel Anderson

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 01: A man takes a photo as snow continues to fall in Times Square on February 01, 2021 in New York City. NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a State of Emergency as a Nor'Easter is expected to bring blizzard-like conditions with up to 18 inches of snow into the city. (Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 01: A man takes a photo as snow continues to fall in Times Square on February 01, 2021 in New York City. NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a State of Emergency as a Nor'Easter is expected to bring blizzard-like conditions with up to 18 inches of snow into the city. (Photo by Scott Heins/Getty Images) /
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It seems that the New York Islanders game at the Nassau Coliseum against the Buffalo Sabres will be postponed. The two teams were scheduled to play tonight on Long Island with puck drop at 6 PM, but after the Sabres flight was canceled it seems the game will be pushed back another day.

There was some concern that this delay was due to COVID but that might not be the case. Ten Devils players were added to the NHL’s COVID protocol list last night. The Devils and Sabres played in Buffalo on Sunday. The reason to push the game could be due to the major snowstorm that hit NYC.

New York Islanders getting another back-to-back game

The game has yet to be officially postponed, but according to multiple sources over Twitter, the game will be called off for today.

This likely means the Islanders and Sabres will faceoff tomorrow (though that isn’t guaranteed) in the first leg of back-to-back games in back-to-back nights. Pushing the number of back-to-backs for the Isles to nine on the shortened season.

Again, this postponement may not be COVID related but due to the major snowstorm in the New York City area. Although that is still up for debate. The Atheltic’s John Vogl is told that this is in fact COVID related.

By midday yesterday more than a foot of snow had fallen in NYC. Flights, like the one the Sabres were due to take for Long Island, were grounded due to the storm. That same flight was canceled again this morning.

With the game scheduled for 6 PM tonight that’s not enough time to travel to Long Island and get to the arena on time for puck drop. That of course doesn’t factor in any COVID protocols both teams have to pass before puck drop.

Logistically, it makes sense to push the game a day, giving the Islanders a bit more time to prepare for the Sabres. With the Isles currently on a five-game losing streak, they could use all the practice they can get before they face the Sabres.

UPDATE

The league released the following notice minutes after this was published. The game is being called off due to the league’s COVID protocol.

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