BOSTON -- The Bruins have placed forwards Brad Marchand and Craig Smith in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol, meaning they will miss Tuesday night's game against the Vegas Golden Knights and possibly as many as six games in all.

The move comes three days after the Bruins played the Flames in Calgary; on Monday, the NHL postponed the Flames' next three games after six players and a staffer were placed in the protocol.

If Marchand and Smith are required to isolate for 10 days, they would miss five more games before they are eligible to return for the Dec. 27 game against Pittsburgh in Boston.

Last month, the Ottawa Senators had three games postponed and the New York Islanders had two postponed.