Ice Chips: Habs place Fairbrother, Belpedio in COVID-19 protocol

Keep updated on all the injury news and roster updates from around the NHL with daily Ice Chips.

Montreal Canadiens

The Canadiens have added defencemen Gianni Fairbrother and Louie Belpedio to the NHL's COVID-19 protocol list. 

They join Paul Byron, Laurent Dauphin, Mike Hoffman, Artturi Lehkonen, Tyler Toffoli, Ben Chiarot, Joel Edmundson, Jeff Petry, Chris Wideman, Jake Allen and Cayden Primeau. 

Goaltending coach Eric Raymond is also in COVID-19 protocol.

Calgary Flames

The Flames have recalled goaltender Dustin Wolf on emergency basis from the AHL's Stockton Heat. Flames goaltender Daniel Vladar will be designated non-roster for tonight's game. 

Forward Brett Ritchie has been placed in NHL COVID protocol as of Dec. 29 and did not travel with the team to Seattle. Forward Byron Froese has been assigned to the Flames' taxi squad.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Head coach Brad Larsen says forwards Patrik Laine and Boone Jenner will dress tonight against the Nashville Predators.

Laine has been out since Nov. 3 due to an oblique injury and personal reason. In nine games this season, he has three goals and 10 points. 

Jenner exited COVID-19 protocol earlier this week and was on the ice for Wednesday's practice. The Blue Jackets captain has 11 goals and 18 points in 28 games this season. 

Forward Emil Bemstrom will also make his season debut tonight.  

#CBJ Boone Jenner and Patrik Laine will dress tonight vs. Nashville, per coach Brad Larsen.

Also, Emil Bemstrom will make his season debut.

All of this, Larsen notes, is pending COVID test results that are still to come.

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) December 30, 2021

Toronto Maple Leafs

Forward Ilya Mikheyev and defenceman Rasmus Sandin have exited COVID-19 protocols and both skated with the Leafs Thursday morning.

This leaves Morgan Rielly (Dec. 23), William Nylander (Dec. 24), Jake Muzzin (Dec. 26) and Timothy Liljegren (Dec. 29) as the four Leafs remaining in protocol.

Ryerson's Gregory DiTomaso was also part of the team's skate.

Players practicing Dec. 30:

Forwards: Bunting, Engvall, Kämpf, Kaše, Kerfoot, Marner, Matthews, Mikheyev, Ritchie, Simmonds, Spezza, Tavares

Defencemen: Biega, Brodie, Dermott, Holl, Kivihalme, Krys, Sandin (& Ryerson's Gregory DiTomaso)

Goalies: Campbell, Hutchinson, Mrazek

— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) December 30, 2021

Meanwhile, defencemen Teemu Kivihalme and Chad Krys have been assigned to the Leafs taxi squad from the AHL's Toronto Marlies.

Defencemen Teemu Kivihalme and Chad Krys have been assigned to the Maple Leafs taxi squad from the Toronto Marlies (AHL).

— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) December 30, 2021

Toronto is scheduled to resume its schedule Saturday at home against the Ottawa Senators.