Bruins cancel morning skate after another player enters COVID-19 protocol, but Thursday's game to go on as scheduled

UPDATE: Despite both a Bruins player and Sabres staff member entering the COVID-19 Protocol list, Thursday's game is set to go on as scheduled. Bruce Cassidy will speak to the media at 5:45, so more info to come regarding the B's lineup. 

https://twitter.com/NHLBruins/status/1372601538573656070

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The Bruins can't seem to catch a break whenever handed a chance to play the cellar-dwelling Sabres this season — with COVID-19 once again throwing a wrench in the B's plans to battle Buffalo on the road on Thursday night.

After taking Wednesday off, the Bruins were scheduled to hit the ice at KeyBank Arena for a morning skate Thursday, but those plans were scrapped after a Bruins player entered the NHL's COVID-19 Protocol List. The Sabres also cancelled their morning skate after a staff member entered COVID-19 protocols.

As of right now, Thursday night's game, along with Saturday's matinee rematch, still remain as scheduled, although any decisions are pending more results from today's rapid testing. Those results should be announced by this afternoon.

There's no word yet on which player on the Bruins entered COVID protocols, although the league usually releases its updated list each day around 5 p.m. Boston has dealt with COVID-19 complications twice this month already — as Charlie Coyle missed one game back on March 3 and Jake DeBrusk was held out of the B's 4-0 loss to the Rangers back on March 13 due to protocols. However, both players were cleared in short order, with their absences due to false positives.

The Bruins were originally set to open their season series with the Sabres at TD Garden back on Feb. 6 and Feb. 8, but those matchups were postponed after Buffalo suffered an outbreak of COVID cases back in early February.