Capitals-Flyers game postponed due to COVID-19 issues

Feb. 9 (UPI) -- Tuesday night's game between the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers has been postponed because of COVID-19 issues within the Flyers organization.

The NHL said the decision was reached after a second Flyers player was placed in the league's coronavirus protocols.

"The decision was made by the medical groups of the NHL, NHL Players' Association, Flyers and Capitals out of an abundance of caution while the NHL continues to analyze test results in the coming days," the league said in a statement Tuesday.

Flyers star forward Claude Giroux and defenseman Justin Braun were identified as the two players who were put in the NHL's COVID-19 protocols on Tuesday.

The Flyers are now the fifth NHL team on pause due to COVID-19 problems. The Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche each had games postponed this week because of COVID-19 cases.

Philadelphia is next scheduled to play at the New York Rangers on Sunday, while the Capitals are set to visit the Pittsburgh Penguins that day. Washington's games against the Sabres on Thursday and Saturday previously were postponed.

The NHL has postponed 32 games during the 2020-21 season because of the coronavirus. Two games were delayed prior to the start of the season.