More Delays: NHL Postpones Penguins Game vs. Toronto on 29th

The Pittsburgh Penguins seven-game winning streak is still on hold. The Penguins restart to the 2021-22 NHL season will have to wait as multiple trusted Canadian reporters tweeted the game will be postponed. The Penguins confirmed the news just after 11 p.m. Sunday night.

Near 10:30 p.m., Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet tweeted the game could be postponed, then former Hockey Night in Canada star John Shannon reported it was.

The Penguins have not played since their 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 19. Their games against the Devils on Dec. 21 and Boston Bruins on Dec. 23 were postponed due to COVID issues, though the Devils had only two players in protocol.

However, the Toronto Maple Leafs have 14 players and coaches in protocol. On Sunday, the Penguins placed Evan Rodrigues in protocol. He was the only reported positive on the team.

Also on Sunday, the NHL announced new roster rules, including the recreation of the Taxi Squad, and emergency call-up rules to aid teams that otherwise might be shorthanded.

The Penguins next scheduled game is Dec. 31 against the Ottawa Senators, at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Penguins next game in the U.S. is at home Jan. 2 against the San Jose Sharks.

The Pittsburgh Penguins currently occupy the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and trail the Metro Division-leading Carolina Hurricanes by four points.