HURRICANES SPRING FOR INCREASED PRECAUTIONS AT TEAM FACILITIES

In a press briefing on Thursday, Carolina Hurricanes GM Don Waddell announced that the club has installed COVID-19 rapid testing machines in their facilities. He added: "We will have to use it when we come out of this quarantine."

Waddell also discussed that the NHL is not wanting to cancel any games, and that the plan is to reschedule them at a later date. The NHL is also trying to avoid having teams play three games in three days.

On Tuesday, the Hurricanes had their game against the Nashville Predators postponed after it was revealed multiple players tested positive for COVID-19. Those players were Jordan Martinook, Warren Foegele, Jaccob Slavin, and Teuvo Teravainen. The next day, out of an abundance of caution, the National Hockey League announced that they were postponing the Hurricanes' next two games that were originally scheduled for January 21st and 23rd against the Florida Panthers.

While the postponements are unfortunate, Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour said they knew there was a chance these outbreaks could happen.

"It's not ideal. We all understood there was a chance something like this was going to happen. Are we going to be in tip-top shape coming out of this? Probably not."

The Hurricanes flew back to Raleigh, but four players had to stay back at the team hotel in Nashville self-isolating after being placed on the COVID-19 protocol list.

Carolina's next scheduled game is Tuesday, January 26th against the Tampa Bay Lightning at 7pm ET.

Hurricanes now have COVID-19 rapid testing machines installed in their facilities. «We will have to use it when we come out of this quarantine."— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) January 21, 2021

Canes GM Don Waddell said there's no push to cancel postponed games by NHL. All talk is about rescheduling.— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) January 21, 2021

Canes GM Don Waddell said in rescheduling discussions with NHL, it's the league's "strong opinion" to avoid having teams play three games in three days to make up games.— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) January 21, 2021

Rod Brind'Amour on postponements: «It's not ideal. We all understood there was a chance something like this was going to happen. Are we going to be in tip-top shape coming out of this? Probably not.»

Said there are "guys in hotel rooms in Nashville that can't leave their rooms."— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) January 21, 2021