Sabres coaches out Thursday vs. Penguins due to COVID-19

If something can go wrong for the 2020-21 Buffalo Sabres, it probably will through May 8 and their scheduled conclusion to what's become a painful season. 

As Lance Lysowski noted for The Buffalo News, the Sabres set a franchise record of 15 consecutive defeats with Wednesday's 5-2 loss at the Pittsburgh Penguins. Things went from bad to worse for the Sabres Thursday afternoon when they announced: 

"In accordance with NHL COVID-19 protocols, interim head coach Don Granato and interim assistant coach Matt Ellis are self-isolating and are unavailable for tonight's game in Pittsburgh. General manager Kevyn Adams will be on the bench tonight and will serve as head coach for the game." 

Granato took over for Ralph Krueger, who was fired on March 17. The following day, the Sabres and Boston Bruins canceled morning skates due to COVID-19 concerns but played that night. However, the NHL then put Boston on a coronavirus-related pause that lasted nearly an entire week. 

Pittsburgh enters Thursday's matchup third in the NHL East standings with 42 points, only four points behind the first-place New York Islanders. It's reasonable to suggest all associated with the Penguins would prefer to avoid an unplanned schedule interruption linked with exposure to COVID-19. 

Buffalo, meanwhile, is dead last in the overall league standings.