Coyotes' Christian Fischer, Ilya Lyubushkin enter COVID protocol

Arizona Coyotes forward Christian Fischer and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin entered the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol today, per a team tweet.

They become the fifth and sixth additions to Arizona’s COVID list,  following Liam O’Brien, Alex Galchenyuk, Jay Beagle, and Lawson Crouse.

Arizona, for the time being, is losing out on some solid defensive presences. Fischer had three goals and three assists through 22 games before entering protocol, and he’s one of the better defensive forwards on the Coyotes, however, and a skilled penalty killer. His presence there will be missed.

Lyubushkin has six assists through 29 games, and while he has been averaging just 18:08 per game, he’s a good defender at even strength.

Fischer and Lyubushkin, if they’re truly COVID positive, are eligible to return Jan. 6 against Chicago if they’re healthy.