The Penguins were back on the ice Sunday, one day after they canceled Saturday’s training camp practices because of potential exposure to COVID-19.

The Penguins got the green light to resume hockey activities Sunday and most of the team laced up their skates for an intrasquad scrimmage that general manager Jim Rutherford recently called “the final test” for roster hopefuls.

From their camp roster there were only three unexplained absences — none of those missing players expected to be regulars this season — as they simulated a game-night environment at PPG Paints Arena with a competitive scrimmage. They fired up Zambonis, blasted dance music, aired Jumbotron ads and everything.

The Penguins, who opened camp on Jan. 3, had planned to have two practices and a scrimmage Saturday. But on Saturday morning the team canceled all in-person activities “out of an abundance of caution.” They were one of four NHL teams since Friday to cancel at least one training camp practice due to COVID-19.

“I know that phrase has been heard a lot these days and it doesn’t necessarily answer your questions,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said on a video call with local reporters Sunday morning. “But it’s just the best way to explain it.”

It is not known if any players, coaches or staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. The Penguins did not share why forward Sam Miletic and defensemen Zach Trotman and Josh Maniscalco were not in uniform Sunday evening.

Sullivan said the Penguins would “not be disclosing injuries or announcing any COVID-related information during training camp,” which ends Tuesday. He also reminded the media that during the regular season the NHL will be responsible for reporting the names of players who test positive for the coronavirus.

“For the next few days, I would really appreciate it and discourage you guys from speculating or assuming that if a player is not on the ice during camp, that they have tested positive, because that might not be the case,” Sullivan said.

Their season opener remains scheduled for Wednesday at the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Dallas Stars, Columbus Blue Jackets and Vancouver Canucks are the other NHL teams that recently canceled practices due to COVID-related concerns. Only the Blue Jackets are back on the ice. The Stars, with six players testing positive along with two staffers, are shut down indefinitely.

Sullivan said that NHL coaching staffs will have to “be prepared to adapt and adjust” this season with a pandemic still raging outside of arena walls.

“We had a game plan built out from Day One of training camp through Game One,” he said. “We’ve thought through this process extensively. We’ve thought through certain contingencies … in the event something like this occurred.”

Given how brief training camp is prior to the 56-game regular season, losing one of their seven scheduled practice days was not ideal. Sullivan said his staff, after canceling Saturday’s practice, instead coached up the players virtually.

“They were sent home for the day. We have an app that is a virtual component of the learning process with respect to our team concept,” Sullivan said. “We can push out information and video and things of that nature to our players so they can review meetings that we do in person with them.”

The Penguins coach added: “That’s been a constant part of our process from Day One of training camp, whether we have them here [at the arena] or we don’t.”

The NHL, despite issuing a 54-page document detailing its health and safety protocols for the season, knew there was a high likelihood it would deal with potential outbreaks, with teams practicing and playing games in home arenas instead of the “bubbles” in hub cities that were successful during last season’s playoffs.

Despite four NHL teams canceling camp practices, it’s still full speed ahead.

“I have a lot of faith in the league,” Sullivan said. “I think the league has done a terrific job of trying to navigate through this pandemic and I have a lot of confidence that they will continue to try to implement protocols that keep everyone as safe as possibly can be, understanding that we’re all going to assume some risk.”

In related news, Sullivan said Kasperi Kapanen, who had been dealing with visa issues, arrived from Finland on Saturday and took his first required COVID-19 test Sunday. The winger is expected to miss at least the team’s first two games while he goes through NHL protocols for players reporting from another country.

Zach Aston-Reese, still on the mend from shoulder surgery, also didn’t scrimmage.

Rutherford on Thursday suggested to the Post-Gazette that the Penguins were waiting to make final decisions on which players make their 23-man roster and their taxi squad after Sunday’s scrimmage, calling it “the final test.”

The general manager added that he anticipates the taxi squad, a group of four to six players that must include one goalie, will change throughout the season. The Penguins won’t want players, especially prospects, to go too long without playing in a game. Plus, there could be cap-related motivations behind some moves.

“But this is important starting the season to get the right mix of guys on there for different reasons,” Rutherford told the Post-Gazette on Thursday.

The weekend’s COVID scare served as a reminder that depth will probably be needed this season as the Penguins try to push for another Stanley Cup.

Matt Vensel: mvensel@post-gazette.com and Twitter @mattvensel.

First Published: January 10, 2021, 1:46 p.m.
Updated: January 10, 2021, 11:49 p.m.