Canucks Lose Pettersson and Höglander for at Least a Week
The Vancouver Canucks will welcome back goaltender Thatcher Demko for Monday’s game against the New Jersey Devils, but they’ll be without two key forwards.
Elias Pettersson and Nils Höglander are set to miss at least the next four games, with both players returning home for further evaluation.
“They went home today,” said head coach Rick Tocchet. “They’ll be evaluated when we get back, so they won’t be with us for the rest of the trip.”
With four games remaining on their road trip, the Canucks won’t play at home until April 2 against the Seattle Kraken, meaning both players will be sidelined for at least a week.
Pettersson and Höglander Sidelined After Injuries Against Rangers
Both players exited Saturday’s game against the New York Rangers before the third period. Pettersson appeared to sustain or worsen an injury during a faceoff, while Höglander may have been hurt after taking an awkward fall following a hit from Rangers defenseman Will Borgen early in the second period. Höglander briefly returned but managed only three more shifts before being ruled out for the remainder of the game.
The injuries come at a critical time for the Canucks, who are five points behind the final Western Conference playoff spot. Both players had been in strong form, frequently playing together on the first line.
Before facing the Rangers, Pettersson had recorded 10 points in his last eight games and was on a six-game scoring streak. Höglander had also been producing, with seven points in his previous seven games.
Canucks Adjust Lineup with AHL Call-Ups
To compensate for Pettersson’s absence, the Canucks have recalled Aatu Räty from the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks under emergency conditions to play center. Meanwhile, Linus Karlsson is expected to fill in on the wing.
