NHL mulling 'league-wide shutdown' after 39 postponements in a week?

The NHL has discussed the possibility of a "league-wide shutdown effective tomorrow," according to reporter Frank Seravalli, due to a surge in COVID-19 cases that forced dozens of games to get postponed.

At the time of Seravalli's report on Monday night, 39 games were postponed in a week's time bringing the total on the year to 44.

Still, Seravalli tweeted that "the prevailing [belief] to this point" is that it makes more sense to continue grinding through the games that can be played and leave fewer games to be made up later. Some teams -- such as the New Jersey Devils -- are reportedly hoping for postponements until they're healthier, but the Vegas Golden Knights and Tampa Bay Lightning both have zero cases and "desperately want to play" their scheduled game Tuesday night.

COVID cases have spiked throughout the sports world, forcing the NFL, NBA, and NHL, among other leagues, to push back games. The NFL's solution to the increased case count was to change protocols to allow asymptomatic players who are vaccinated to avoid testing. St. Louis Blues captain Ryan O'Reilly told reporters Sunday night that he believes that's a model the NHL should follow. 

"We’ve got guys vaccinated and double vaccinated and some guys aren’t showing any symptoms, and they’re getting popped and they’re in COVID protocol," O'Reilly said, via TSN. "I think I’d like to see no testing unless you have symptoms, but it’s not up to me. It’s a league and players decision. Hopefully we can figure this out because it’s frustrating."