Tomas Nosek tests positive for COVID-19, Golden Knights to play Thursday

Vegas Golden Knights forward Tomas Nosek is in the league’s COVID-19 protocol following a positive test received during Tuesday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks at T-Mobile Arena, the league announced.

Nosek did not play in the third period in Vegas’ 5-4 victory on Tuesday.

The Golden Knights canceled their postgame media availability due to COVID protocols. Practice and media availability Wednesday were canceled, as well.

Vegas just returned to action after an eight-day hiatus that saw three games postponed. Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo and three coaches entered COVID protocol on Jan. 28.

As of now, Thursday’s game is set to go on as planned. Rapid PCR Point of Care testing will be used on players and staff from both teams, as well as their usual daily testing. If a postponement should occur, the league and all parties involved will make the call ahead of the game.

Nosek was removed from Tuesday’s game “in precise accordance with the terms of the League’s COVID Protocol,” according to the league.

Anaheim coach Dallas Eakins said the Ducks were made aware of a positive test following Tuesday’s game. The Ducks canceled their postgame Zoom session following an eight-minute virtual scrum with forward Troy Terry.

“We want to make sure everyone’s safe,” Eakins said. “Obviously the other team had a positive case and that puts everybody on red alert. I certainly didn’t want to be sitting in a media room where other people have been.”

No other Golden Knights players, nor any Ducks players, were added to COVID protocol.

Nosek played 9:05 before being pulled from the game.

What’s next?

If the puck does drop at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday, it’s going to be a miracle. The fact that Nosek was the only player to return a positive test is shocking. No one is out of the woods yet. The Golden Knights will obviously test again prior to morning skate. My guess is we’ll know more at City National Arena on Thursday.

What doesn’t make sense is the lack of clarity for this situation. The fact that the Ducks were the ones to reveal the Golden Knights had a positive test shows how flawed this entire process is.

I understand the need to be discreet and for teams to tread cautiously during these weird and unprecedented times, but — at this moment — all involved should be lucky a postponement hasn’t been announced via a league press release.

The Golden Knights have Thursday’s game against Anaheim, are at San Jose on Saturday, followed by a Sunday game against the Colorado Avalanche. Everything can turn on its head between now and then.

All we can do now, much like this morning, is sit and wait.

Danny Webster covers the Vegas Golden Knights for Vegas Hockey Now. Follow him on Twitter @DannyWebster21.