Bruins goalie Jaroslav Halak has been forced into COVID-19 protocols after testing positive for the virus, the team announced Monday. Winslow Townson/Associated Press

Jaroslav Halak became the Bruins’ latest player to go into COVID-19 protocols leaving Boston potentially thin at goalie for the near future.

With Tuukka Rask out with an upper body injury and not ready to return, Halak has been the team’s No. 1 goalie with Dan Vladar filling in as the team’s top backup. But Bruce Cassidy announced Monday that Halak had tested positive for COVID-19.

The Bruins have had multiple players receive false positives, but even if Halak had a false positive, it’s unlikely he could be cleared by Tuesday’s game in Philadelphia, the second game of this back to back.

Rookie Jeremy Swayman, a former University of Maine star, will back up Vladar, Monday and could potentially make his first NHL start Tuesday in Philadelphia.

Vladar is 2-1 with a 2.03 goals against average and a 92.9 save percentage. Swayman is 8-1 with a 1.89 GAA and 93.3 save percentage in Providence.
Jake DeBrusk, who was in protocols has returned to the team.