Sabres' Vinnie Hinostroza placed in COVID protocol

The Buffalo Sabres already had their games this week postponed, but that was supposed to be due to a COVID outbreak with their opponent, the Columbus Blue Jackets. Perhaps it wasn’t only that, however, as the Sabres have now also added Vinnie Hinostroza to the protocol. With the games postponed, the Sabres have returned Casey Fitzgerald to the AHL.

Hinostroza, 27, has found something of a home in Buffalo after a tumultuous career and has 14 points in 30 games so far this season. A stint on the COVID list, assuming he tested positive for coronavirus and is experiencing symptoms, would keep him out a minimum of 10 days. That would mean missing at least two games.

After playing on three teams over the last two seasons, Hinostroza looks a lot more like the player who scored 16 goals and 39 points for the Arizona Coyotes in 2018-19. He’ll have to hope he can get back on track after this time out of the lineup.