BREAKING: Islanders Next Game Postponed As NHL Delays Return

The New York Islanders originally scheduled contest against the Buffalo Sabres on Dec. 27 has been postponed.

The NHL has decided to resume the regular-season schedule no earlier than Tuesday, Dec. 28. This change has been made for the NHL to be given the time to conduct league-wide testing results and get an idea of where each team is regarding their COVID-19 situation.

SCHEDULE UPDATE: @NHL delays return to game play by a day; games on Dec. 27 postponed.https://t.co/UX99dQ0tp1 pic.twitter.com/zZRrGjpt7L

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 24, 2021

This past Wednesday, Dec. 22, the NHL and the NHLPA agreed to start the Christmas Break a day earlier as COVID-19 numbers spiked across the NHL. All facilities were to be closed until after Christmas Day. Sunday, with the regular-season schedule set to resume on Monday, Dec. 27.

SCHEDULE UPDATE: @NHL delays return to game play by a day; games on Dec. 27 postponed.https://t.co/UX99dQ0tp1 pic.twitter.com/zZRrGjpt7L

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) December 24, 2021

The Islanders saw their last two games (Dec. 20 vs. MTL, Dec. 23 vs. WSH) postponed before the Christmas Break. Team facilities are still allowed to reopen this upcoming Sunday. All team personnel, including traveling party members, must have a negative test to enter any team facility.

The Islanders’ next game will now be Dec. 29 when they host the Detroit Red Wings at 7:30 PM.