Coronavirus: NHL adds another measure to what was flawed testing protocol

San Jose Sharks started rapid testing for COVID-19 before Thursday's game with the Los Angeles Kings

The San Jose Sharks have started to undergo rapid COVID-19 testing, giving coach Bob Boughner some peace of mind that he won’t have to face a similar situation as the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks did earlier this week when a player was abruptly removed from their game.

Golden Knights forward Tomas Nosek was taken out of his team’s game Tuesday with the Ducks before the start of the third period after a positive COVID-19 test. Nosek was then isolated from his teammates and close contact tracing began.

Thursday’s game between the Golden Knights and Ducks is scheduled to be played, as the NHL announced that rapid tests, along with daily PCR testing, would be given to all players and staff on both teams prior to the game. The Sharks are scheduled to play Vegas on Saturday and Anaheim on Monday in their first two home games of the season.

Still, the sequence illustrated some of the flaws with the league’s testing protocol, which involved players and team personnel taking one PCR test per day. While remarkably accurate, the tests also needed more time to be processed and for results to be known, allowing for events like Tuesday’s to take place.

On Jan. 30, an AHL exhibition game between the Barracuda and Henderson Silver Knights was halted between the second and third periods after it was learned that a San Jose player had tested positive.

The Sharks underwent rapid testing for the first time Thursday, along with their normal PCR tests, as they got set to play the Los Angeles Kings to conclude a two-game series at Staples Center. Boughner said nurses were at the Sharks’ hotel in the morning to administer tests to everyone who was slated to play and be a part of pregame warmups.

“I think it’s a smart move,” Boughner said. “Waiting 12 hours or the next day to get your results, then you have that chance of playing with an infected player on your roster. I think that’s how things could take off and spread. I think that’s just a smart move.”

Boughner said the night before a game, every team will need to submit a list of players who are expected to either play or participate in warmups the next day. Those players are then given rapid testing in the morning the day of the game.

“Obviously it’s probably more of an expensive model,” Boughner said. “But (we’re) trying to get through the season and trying not to get games canceled. For many reasons I think we’re all on board with it. I was happy to see that decision and it does feel like an added layer of protection.”

The Sharks have had just one player who has been unavailable due to the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol. Forward Max Letunov began the season on the list, which could mean an initial positive test, a period of isolation for symptomatic individuals or required quarantine as a high-risk close contact. Letunov was soon cleared and returned to the Barracuda.

“Knock on wood, we’ve been pretty safe here and we haven’t had any issues yet,” Boughner said of the Sharks. “But that big word is yet. It’s tough to control this thing and you’ll be in a situation where someone’s infected and they’re in the room and they’re not knowing.

“I think (rapid testing) is the right thing to do, the smart thing to do and we all got to be working together as one to get through this season and get things done.”

LINEUP CHANGE: Boughner is making one lineup change Thursday as forward John Leonard replaces Rudolfs Balcers, who joined the Sharks last week after a brief conditioning assignment with the Barracuda. Balcers did not have a point in the last two games and played just 8:32 in Tuesday’s 4-3 shootout win by the Sharks over the Kings.

Leonard, who played in the Sharks’ first seven games this season, had a goal and an assist and a combined 11 shots in two games with the Barracuda.