Islanders cleared to resume play Thursday

The NHL gave the go-ahead for the New York Islanders to proceed with their regular-season slate after having a pair of games postponed due to COVID-19 protocol.

The team will host the San Jose Sharks on Thursday as previously scheduled after the league temporarily called off the Islanders' matchups versus the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively. The NHL is still working on rescheduling those contests.

Eight Islanders players were on the COVID-19 list at the time of the postponements, but several of them were back on the ice Wednesday. Anders Lee, Josh Bailey, Adam Pelech, Andy Greene, and Ross Johnston are now out of protocol, head coach Barry Trotz said, according to Newsday's Andrew Gross. Trotz added that he expects four of those players to suit up against the Sharks.

Zdeno Chara, Casey Cizikas, and Kieffer Bellows are the other three Islanders players on the list. General manager Lou Lamoriello confirmed Saturday that Cizikas tested positive.

The Islanders became the second NHL team to have games postponed due to COVID-19 protocol this season. The Ottawa Senators were forced to temporarily scrap three contests earlier in November after 10 players and their associate coach landed on the list.

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