The Bruins have been shut down by the NHL through at least Dec. 26, the league announced Saturday, as the team grapples with an outbreak of COVID-19 that has resulted in seven players and two staffers entering protocols since Monday.
The league said the Bruins had returned “additional positive cases,” meaning the number of personnel affected may grow, and that it is concerned with “the continued spread of COVID-19″ within the organization.
The Bruins’ training facility in Brighton will be closed and players will not be able to train. The NHL also said it would review the Bruins’ regular-season schedule to try to make up the four postponed games.
In addition to Sunday’s game against the Senators in Ottawa, the Bruins’ Tuesday game against the Hurricanes is postponed. The NHL already had postponed Saturday’s matchup with the Canadiens in Montreal, plus Thursday’s game vs. the Avalanche.
The Bruins are one of five teams, joining the Flames, Avalanche, Panthers, and Predators — Nashville was also shut down Saturday — on the shelf through the NHL’s holiday break.
The Bruins are scheduled to return from the break to host the Penguins on Dec. 27 before another planned trip to Ottawa on Dec. 29, games that could be scrapped if the team continues to see more positive cases.
The Bruins planned to take the ice in Brighton Saturday morning after returning home from Thursday’s loss to the Islanders, but canceled practice after undergoing testing at Warrior Ice Arena.
The NHL and the NHL Players Association announced Saturday morning the adoption of enhanced COVID-19 measures, to remain in place until at least Jan. 7. The beefed-up protocols include round-the-clock masking, distancing during meals, and prohibition against indoor meals on the road in establishments open to the public. Teams will undergo daily testing, as well as pregame testing when deemed necessary by the NHL and NHLPA if an outbreak occurs within a team.
In addition to shelving the five teams, the NHL also postponed games for the Maple Leafs and Canucks. The teams have seen “a number” of players enter COVID protocols. Toronto and Vancouver were scheduled to play Saturday. That game has been postponed, as has Sunday’s Coyotes-Canucks and Maple Leafs-Kraken games.
Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at kevin.dupont@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeKPD. Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com.