Boston Bruins defenseman John Moore (27) checks Vegas Golden Knights left wing Max Pacioretty during an NHL game Tuesday in Boston. AP Photo/Charles Krupa

The Boston Bruins won’t be hitting the ice again until after Christmas.

On Saturday, the NHL announced that the Bruins would be shut down through Sunday, Dec. 26, “as a result of additional positive cases and concern with the continued spread of COVID-19.”

The change affects the following four games:

• Saturday, Dec. 18 @ Montreal
• Sunday, Dec. 19 @ Ottawa
• Tuesday, Dec. 21 vs. Carolina
• Thursday, Dec. 23 vs. Colorado

The soonest the Bruins will resume their schedule is Monday, Dec. 27, at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins — barring any further setbacks, of course.

The league also announced that the Bruins’ training facilities will be closed during this time, starting immediately, and will say closed “until further notice.”

The NHL has yet to announce any makeup dates for games, but the league did state that it is working on revising Boston’s regular-season schedule.

“The Bruins organization has followed, and will continue to follow, all recommended guidelines aimed at protecting the health and safety of its players, staff and community at large as set by the NHL, local and national agencies,” the league said in a statement.

Fans with tickets to home games on Dec. 21 against the Carolina Hurricanes or Dec. 23 against the Colorado Avalanche will be able to use their tickets on the rescheduled dates.

THE NHL REINTRODUCED stricter COVID-19 protocols Saturday that include daily testing and other steps in a bid to limit a growing outbreak among players and team personnel.

The enhanced protocols will be put into effect immediately and last through Jan. 1 with an evaluation of their impact no later than Jan. 7. The move follows discussions between the NHL and NHL Players’ Association as virus conditions worsen across North America.

Three teams — Calgary, Colorado and Florida — are virtually shut down through next week because of virus cases. Approximately 70 players — 10% of the 700 league-wide — are in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol and the number of games postponed this season has climbed past 20.

The NHL also announced that games involving the Bruins and Nashville Predators will be postponed at least through the scheduled completion of the league’s holiday break on Dec. 26. Additionally, Saturday night’s Toronto-Vancouver game and Sunday’s Arizona-Vancouver and Toronto-Seattle games have been postponed.

Several Canadian provinces are now or will soon limit attendance at large events like NHL games to 50% of capacity.

Besides the daily testing for players and coaches, “additional pre-game testing may be implemented, on a case-by-case basis, when a COVID outbreak occurs within a team.”

The league said the omicron variant is responsible for the uptick in cases.

“Given the increased number of positive cases in our league within the last two weeks, and changing societal realities with the new omicron COVID-19 variant, the NHLPA and NHL have collectively agreed that all Clubs shall be required to follow enhanced preventative and detection measures,” the league said.

Moments after the announcement, Detroit placed three players, coach Jeff Blashill and assistant coach Alex Tanguay in protocol ahead of Saturday night’s home game against New Jersey. The Red Wings have the only player in the league, Tyler Bertuzzi, who is not vaccinated.

While postponed games may be rescheduled, all eyes on are the calendar: The NHL plans to allow its players to participate in the Winter Olympics in China in February — unless COVID-19 disruptions prove to be too much.

The NHL has until Jan. 10 to opt-out of the Winter Games without financial penalty, but retains the right to cancel its plans up until players are scheduled to travel to Beijing.