The NHL will close dressing rooms to the media to combat the spread of the coronavirus, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

Players will now be available to the media in a formal press conference area. MLB, MLS, and the NBA are expected to follow suit on the new protocol, Friedman adds.

Only a "couple of teams" are closing their dressing rooms for the time being, but it could become a league-wide practice over the next 48 hours or so, Sportsnet's Chris Johnston reported on the latest edition of "Saturday Headlines."

The NHL asked teams for available building dates later in April in case of postponements, lined up potential neutral-site venues in the event that only certain regions become unsuitable to host games, and discussed playing in empty arenas as a worst-case scenario, Johnston added.

The league sent a memo Friday to all teams, urging players to limit contact with fans as concerns about the virus grow. The league also ordered its employees to stop all business-related travel outside North America.

Santa Clara County in Northern California has recommended the cancellation of large events, including San Jose Sharks home games, but the team announced Friday that all scheduled affairs at SAP Center will proceed as originally scheduled.

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The International Ice Hockey Federation and Hockey Canada are expected to cancel the 2020 Women's World Championship in Halifax and Truro, Nova Scotia, due to the growing threat of the coronavirus, reports TSN's Darren Dreger.

The tournament was scheduled to begin March 31. Six other IIHF events scheduled this month were canceled earlier this week due to the virus, and the focus will now shift to whether the World U-18 Championship in April and the men's worlds in May can go on as originally planned, Dreger adds.

Numerous sporting events around the world have recently been canceled, postponed, or played without fans in attendance in an effort to stop the virus from spreading.

The NHL sent a memo to all teams Friday to remind players to limit contact with fans and also order league employees to stop all business-related travel outside North America.

The Women's World Championship was set to feature a 10-team field: Canada, the United States, Finland, Russia, and Switzerland made up Group A, while Japan, Germany, Czech Republic, Denmark, and Hungary were in Group B.

In 2019, Team USA defeated Finland to claim its fifth consecutive gold medal at the event.

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The Edmonton Oilers signed forward Josh Archibald to a two-year contract extension, the team announced Friday.

It carries an average annual value of $1.5 million, TSN's Ryan Rishaug reports. That's a modest raise on the one-year, $1-million pact Archibald signed with the Oilers last July.

Archibald was set to be a pending unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. The 27-year-old has matched a career high with 12 goals this season, while also chipping in eight assists across 59 games.

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Montreal Canadiens legend and Hall of Famer Henri Richard died Friday at the age of 84, the team announced.

Richard played 20 seasons with the Canadiens, winning a remarkable 11 Stanley Cups - an NHL record for a player. He joined the Habs during the 1955-56 campaign and was on five consecutive championship-winning teams to begin his career.

He served as Montreal's captain from 1971 to 1975, and the organization retired his No. 16 before Richard was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1979. Richard finished his career with 1,046 points in 1,258 games.

A four-time postseason All-Star and Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy winner, Richard was the younger brother of fellow Canadiens legend Maurice "The Rocket" Richard.

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New York Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk needed 90 stitches to repair a cut to his face after being struck by a skate during Tuesday's game, general manager Lou Lamoriello announced Wednesday.

Boychuk only suffered damage to his eyelid, not his eye, Lamoriello added. There is no timetable for his return, but Boychuk is expected to make a full recovery.

The incident occurred in the third period of the Islanders' game against the Canadiens. Montreal forward Artturi Lehkonen fell to the ice in front of New York's goal and clipped Boychuk on the way down.

Boychuk, 36, is in his sixth season with the Islanders. The veteran blue-liner has posted two goals and nine assists in 64 contests in 2019-20 while averaging over 17 minutes per night.

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The NHL salary cap could increase significantly for the 2020-21 season, as deputy commissioner Bill Daly announced Wednesday that the expected range is between $84 million and $88.2 million, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

The current cap is $81.5 million, a figure determined last June that came in $1.5 million lower than the estimate commissioner Gary Bettman shared in December 2018.

The exact cap figure will be negotiated between the NHL and NHLPA. Daly also said that a multi-year salary cap has been discussed in CBA talks to help teams plan for the future, LeBrun added.

The NHL introduced a hard salary cap following the 2005 lockout. The initial figure was $39 million and has risen each year since.

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The Ottawa Senators fired CEO Jim Little less than two months after he was hired, the team announced Wednesday in a statement on Canada Newswire.

"The decision was made as a result of conduct inconsistent with the core values of the Ottawa Senators and the National Hockey League. Mr. Little's departure is effective immediately," the statement read.

The Senators will also begin their search for a replacement immediately.

Little joined the team on Jan. 10. His role was focused on business strategy, with an emphasis on trying to boost attendance at Canadian Tire Centre.

"Frankly, over the last few years there have been some areas where - as every company goes through - you lose sight of the customer. My first and foremost job is to get the customer back," Little told TSN's Ian Mendes in February.

Prior to working for the Senators, Little held positions with Shaw Communications, Royal Bank of Canada, and Bombardier.

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New York Rangers forward Chris Kreider suffered a fractured foot while blocking a shot in the first period of Friday's contest versus the Philadelphia Flyers, the team announced.

Kreider signed a seven-year, $45.5-million extension with the Rangers on Monday after being rumored throughout the season to be one of the top candidates to be moved at the trade deadline.

New York entered Friday's game having won nine of its last 10 contests and sits two points back of a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. It would be a huge blow to the team's playoff hopes if Kreider is forced to miss significant time.

Kreider has posted 24 goals and 21 assists in 63 games this season.

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The New York Islanders will be returning to their old barn full time for the 2020-21 campaign.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to announce Saturday that the club will play its entire home schedule next season at Nassau Coliseum, sources told Newsday's Randi F. Marshall.

Cuomo is also expected to announce the Isles will play any home playoff games this season at Nassau Coliseum, Marshall adds.

Former Islanders owner Charles Wang moved the franchise's home games to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in 2015. In 2017, Cuomo arranged for the club to share home contests between the two locations.

The 2020-21 campaign is expected to be the Islanders' last season before they move into their new home at Belmont Park, which is currently under construction.

Nassau Coliseum was originally opened in 1972 and has undergone numerous renovations in recent years.

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Winnipeg Jets star Patrik Laine suffered a lower-body injury after blocking a shot in the first period of Thursday's tilt versus the Washington Capitals and didn't return.

There's no immediate update on his condition, but he will travel with the team for Saturday's game in Edmonton, according to the Winnipeg Sun's Scott Billeck. His availability will be based on how he feels Friday.

Laine has been a vital piece of Winnipeg's attack this season, entering Thursday's contest with 26 goals and 33 assists in 63 games.

Winnipeg ultimately blanked the Caps 3-0. After Thursday's action, the Jets are tied with the Nashville Predators - who own the West's second wild-card spot - at 72 points, but have played three extra games.

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