Game five between Montreal and Minnesota has been cancelled due to illness and player safety with no make up date provided.
In something you rarely see — especially in playoff hockey — Game 5 between the Montreal Victoire and the Minnesota Frost has been cancelled.
According to sources at least five Montreal players are dealing with an illness, although the exact nature of it remains unknown.
The league provided an update on the matter in their formal announcement due to player safety concerns related to illness.
“The decision was made following consultation with medical personnel and in accordance with the league’s commitment to the health and wellbeing of players, fans, staff and all those involved in the competition,” the league wrote.
“Medical assessment has determined that the symptoms are not consistent with hantavirus.”
Earlier this morning, two reserve players and a healthy scratch were informed they would be in the lineup tonight for Montreal.
But around 3:40 pm they were told the game was being cancelled instead.
The Hockey News received information about the cancellation at roughly 3:25pm.
The good news is that Place Bell is available Tuesday and Wednesday. However, the Montreal Canadiens are also scheduled to play Tuesday at the Bell Centre, which would not be ideal for the Victoire. Just last weekend, the Laval Rocket moved one of their Place Bell playoff games from Friday to Saturday to avoid going head-to-head with the Canadiens.
Although the Rocket have now been eliminated from the AHL playoffs, Place Bell already has events scheduled for Thursday and Saturday. Earlier today, the PWHL also announced that Game 3 of the Finals would be played in Ottawa on Monday, May 18. With the Ottawa Senators eliminated, there is flexibility for the league to push that game back if necessary.