St. Louis Blues captain Ryan O’Reilly joined fellow forward Brandon Saad in the COVID-19 protocol on Tuesday.
O’Reilly, 30, tested positive Tuesday and will miss at least the next four games after experiencing symptoms.
Saad, who turns 29 on Wednesday, has been sidelined since testing positive last Thursday and is out for at least two more games.
“It’s obviously not very good news for O’Reilly, his health and the team for sure,” Blues coach Craig Berube said. “It’s an obstacle that we’re going to have to deal with just like we had to with Saad.
“… I found out when I got to the rink. Obviously it’s upsetting and surprising at the same time, but it’s not something that we want to hear, that’s for sure. Again, we’ll deal with it. O’Reilly’s out at least 10 days, I believe. I’m just not sure on Saad yet when he’s back. It’s getting close though.”
The unbeaten Blues (5-0-0) return to the ice Thursday night against the visiting Colorado Avalanche.
O’Reilly has two goals and three assists in five games in his fourth season with the Blues.
A 2019 Stanley Cup champion with St. Louis, he has 619 points (221 goals, 398 assists) in 865 games with the Avalanche (2009-15), Buffalo Sabres (2015-18) and Blues.
Saad has one goal and one assist in three games this season, his first with the Blues.
A two-time Stanley Cup winner with Chicago, he has 373 points (185 goals, 188 assists) in 635 career games with the Blackhawks (2011-15, 2017-20), Columbus Blue Jackets (2015-17), Avalanche (2020-21) and Blues.
–Field Level Media