On Tuesday night the Golden Knights played a game at T-Mobile Arena without their entire coaching staff. After the game, Kelly McCrimmon confirmed that one member of the coaching staff had tested positive and the rest were isolating out of an abundance of caution.

Now, tonight’s game has been canceled with the league releasing the information that a player and another coach have entered the NHL’s COVID Protocols.

Many of the specifics remain unknown, but the protocols are clearly spelled out and can help us sort through what has already happened and what’s next for the Golden Knights.

How often are the players and coaches tested?

All players, coaches, trainers, equipment managers, and physicians are part of “Group 1.” Daily testing of all Group 1 individuals has been in effect since the beginning of Training Camp and through the first four weeks of the season.

What does it mean to enter the NHL’s COVID Protocols?

A player or coach can enter the protocols in a number of different ways. A positive test instantly places the person in the protocols. However, anyone exuding symptoms or anyone who has had close contact with someone that has tested positive are also entered into the protocols. Entering into the protocols does NOT mean a person is confirmed to have COVID-19.

What happens when someone tests positive?

If an initial test returns as positive, that person is immediately removed from the facility and is directed to isolate. Contact tracing is begun to identify others who could have been exposed. Then, a “second run” re-test is done on the positive sample, also the person is tested again 24 hours and 48 hours after the positive test. If any of those tests are positive, the person is confirmed as positive for COVID-19 and must isolate for at least 10 days. If all follow-up tests are negative, the person may return to the team.

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(Photo Credit: SinBin.vegas Photographer Brandon Andreasen)

The economic downturn that has crippled the country has made its way to the Vegas Golden Knights organization.

A week before the Golden Knights are set to take the ice for the 2020-21 season, the Golden Knights furloughed a number of employees.

Sources tell SinBin.vegas that number is upwards of 10 and they are members of multiple departments within the organization.

The Golden Knights released this statement.

Since the NHL pause in March, we have implemented a series of measures in order to protect the long term viability of our business. While these measures did help, they were not entirely sufficient to meet the significant challenges that our business, our city and the sports and entertainment industry as a whole face today as a result of the pandemic crisis. On Thursday, we made the difficult decision to temporarily furlough a number of our employees for a 90-day furlough period. These employees will continue to receive their health benefits during the furlough period. Our hope is that we can return to our normal operations and staffing levels in the near future once business conditions improve. -Vegas Golden Knights