Boston Bruins

Cassidy In Covid Protocol, Sacco To Coach Bruins Vs Red Wings

Published

2 years ago

November 30, 2021

The Boston Bruins announced Tuesday morning that head coach Bruce Cassidy has been placed in COVID Protocol and that assistant head coach Joe Sacco will take over behind the bench in Cassidy’s absence.

The Boston Bruins host the Detroit Red Wings Tuesday night in Boston, play the Predators in Nashville Thursday, and return home to play the Tampa Bay Lightning Saturday night at TD Garden.

In a press conference shortly after the announcement and his team’s game-day skate, Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney told the media that Cassidy is experiencing minor symptoms but is ‘doing fine’ and will now just hope for a fast recovery.

The Cassidy COVID news comes on the heels of what is now a rapidly growing COVID outbreak with the Providence Bruins, the AHL affiliate for the Boston Bruins. On Monday, NHL.com reporter Mark Divver, who has covered the P-Bruins for over 20 years, reported that the team had shut down operations due to the outbreak. That situation has now gotten worse according to Divver.

Providence Bruins COVID situation worsening. Hearing cases in double figures now

— Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) November 30, 2021

Unlike the Edmonton Oilers – who shut down practice due to COVID Tuesday – San Jose Sharks, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, Colorado Avalanche, and Dallas Stars, the Boston Bruins were able to evade any major COVID issues this season but it appears, the virus is rearing its ugly head again on Causeway Street. That was the case last season when the Bruins had up to six players on the COVID list at one point in late March and early April. That COVID list included former Boston Bruins centers David Krejci and Sean Kuraly, forwards Jake DeBrusk, Craig Smith, and David Pastrnak, as well as former Bruins goalie Jaro Halak.

Thankfully right now, no Bruins players are in COVID protocol but given their interactions with recent call-ups from Providence and of course Cassidy, that unfortunately will likely change as this virus continues to ravage the NHL.