Jake Virtanen and Chris Tanev add to Canucks injury woes
If the Vancouver Canucks didn’t have bad luck, they’d have no luck at all.
Sure feels that way in the month of February, as the team got more bad news on the injury front.
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The Canucks will be without both Jake Virtanen and Chris Tanev for tonight’s game in Los Angeles after they were each injured Wednesday in Anaheim.
#Canucks expected to be without both Chris Tanev and Jake Virtanen tonight vs Kings. Unbelievable run of injuries.
— Iain MacIntyre (@imacSportsnet) February 15, 2019
Virtanen was hit accidentally on purpose by Ducks centre Ryan Getzlaf, seemingly as retaliation for an earlier bodycheck on Corey Perry. The Canucks winger was looked at in the dressing room, but returned to the game.
Prior to the hit, Virtanen knocked down Corey Perry behind the #Canucks net. #LetsGoDucks pic.twitter.com/T67gLt4U0A
— Vanessa Jang (@vanessajang) February 14, 2019
Getzlaf channelled his inner Martin Hanzal, as a one-man wrecking crew.
Early in the third period, he collided with Tanev on the end boards, injuring the oft-injured Canucks defenceman.
Chris Tanev went straight to the room after colliding awkwardly with Ryan Getzlaf. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/yzdxzK5qBK
— Vanessa Jang (@vanessajang) February 14, 2019
Tanev hurt his ankle on the play, and is headed back to Vancouver.
After being 100% healthy for a hot minute after their bye week, the Canucks have had a rash of injuries in the last two weeks.
Sven Baertschi (concussion), Thatcher Demko (knee), Alex Edler (concussion), and Brandon Sutter (lower body) are all out of the lineup, while Jacob Markstrom was back between the pipes on Wednesday after being unable to play on Monday with “tightness” in his lower body.
From Green:
Tanev (ankle) back to VAN
Virtanen our tonight, not concussion
Sutter out at least 2 weeks
Brisebois will make NHL debut
Goldobin in for Virtanen
Markstrom starts. #canucks— Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) February 15, 2019
The Canucks are most hurt on defence, as missing Edler and Tanev spells trouble for an already thin blue line.
Guillaume Brisebois will draw into the lineup for his first NHL game. The 21-year-old defenceman has nine points (2-7-9) in 45 games with the Utica Comets this season. Nikolay Goldobin will draw back into the lineup with Virtanen out.
Tonight’s game against the Kings is a big swing game. If the Canucks win, they’ll tie the last playoff team in points. A regulation loss would put them just four points up on the last-place team in the West.
Vancouver plays in San Jose on Saturday before getting a four-day rest ahead of Thursday’s home game against the New York Islanders.