Sabres coach Ralph Krueger announced that Cozens and Lazar, both of whom entered COVID protocols on Feb. 6, participated in a rehab skate Tuesday morning. Ristolainen and forward Taylor Hall were the first Sabres to be named COVID protocol-related absences on Feb. 2.
In addition to Hall, four other Sabres players have been removed from the COVID-related absence list in the past week: forward Tobias Rieder and defensemen Rasmus Dahlin, Jake McCabe, and Brandon Montour. Dahlin was the only one of those players who did not test positive for COVID-19.
According to NHL guidelines, "COVID Protocol Related Absences" can be the result of a number of factors including, among others:
(1) an initial positive test which remains unconfirmed until confirmatory testing is completed pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol;
(2) mandated isolation for symptomatic individuals pursuant to the Positive Test Protocol;
(3) required quarantine as a high-risk close contact in accordance with the Positive Test Protocol;
(4) isolation based on a confirmed positive test result and/or;
(5) quarantine for travel or other reasons as outlined in the COVID-19 Protocol.
