Edmonton Oilers forward Jesse Puljujarvi and goalie Mikko Koskinen, as well as Ottawa Senators defenceman Artem Zub were all held out of action on Thursday night.

Senators head coach DJ Smith confirmed after the game against the Winnipeg Jets that Zub retested negative for COVID-19 and can practice on Friday and play Saturday.

The Senators had held Zub out of Thursday's lineup for "precautionary reasons" after an inconclusive COVID-19 test.

In the case of the Oilers, inconclusive testing results needed to be double checked, and as a result Puljujarvi was put in Covid Protocol. Contact tracing determined that Koskinen needed to be held out of the game against Montreal out of an abundance of caution. Confirmatory testing is being done on Puljujarvi.

Because of the testing, the NHL pushed back the start time of the Oilers-Canadiens game from 7pm et to 8pm et, and the game was then allowed to be played.

With Koskinen out and Mike Smith starting, the Oilers recalled rookie goalie Dylan Wells on an emergency basis.

The NHL has postponed 35 games this season, but the seven Canadian teams in the North Division have yet to see their schedule interrupted.