Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Bruins, Sabres cleared to play after COVID-19 scares

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Mar 18, 2021 3:20 PM ET

Thursday's NHL game between the Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres is on as scheduled following coronavirus scares for both clubs.

Per the NHL's official website, the Bruins and Sabres have been cleared to play in Buffalo after both teams canceled morning skates. Boston had at least one player go onto the league's COVID-19 protocols list, while a member of Buffalo's hockey staff entered the coronavirus-related protocols.

UPDATE: After further testing and contact tracing, as of now, tonight’s game against the Buffalo Sabres will go on as scheduled.
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 18, 2021

It's currently unknown if anybody new associated with either team tested positive for the coronavirus, and the NHL could still postpone the game later in the day depending on further developments.

The Sabres fired coach Ralph Krueger on Wednesday and are dead last in the NHL East standings. Assistant Don Granato will make his debut as interim coach on Thursday if the game remains on the schedule.

Meanwhile, the Bruins are fourth and on 34 points, three ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers. The top four clubs from each division qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

As of Thursday afternoon, the Sabres are set to host the Bruins again on Saturday afternoon.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

More must-reads: