What captain Hughes said after first game back for Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet was hoping to give captain Quinn Hughes an easy first game back in the lineup.
Hughes played in last night’s 3-2 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings. It was his first contest since January 31 against the Dallas Stars, giving him nearly a month off.
The reigning Norris Trophy winner took warmup but didn’t take line rushes, and it looked like he wasn’t going to play. However, he managed to convince Tocchet to put him in the lineup and the Canucks used seven defencemen.
“Huggy called me into the medical room and we had a little bit of a talk. He kind of persuaded me. It was one of those things, I don’t know what he played tonight, but the original thought was 16-17 minutes,” explained Tocchet.
Hughes finished with 21:38 of ice time, second most among Canucks defencemen.
Tocchet tried his best to give Hughes a lighter load, playing him sparingly after the Canucks took a 2-0 lead. However, the Kings roared back and tied the game, forcing Tocchet to rely on his all-star blueliner.
Hughes eventually came up with a big play, as he has done so many times before, setting up the overtime winner. Conor Garland fired home a great wrist shot after a Hughes pass.
GARLAND WINS IT FOR VANCOUVER! ā
The Canucks forward makes no mistake on the shot to secure the @SUBWAYCanada OT winner! pic.twitter.com/0RWaOix0zp
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 27, 2025
“It was good to be back, obviously sucks being out. It’s nice to win, too,” said Hughes.
The 25-year-old didn’t miss too many NHL games because of the 4 Nations Face-Off break, but did have to miss that international tournament.
“Very frustrating. It was a slow process, and it was day by day. Really thankful to our medical group, who did a great job with me. I’m just going to have to keep building, can’t say I felt my best tonight, but I got through the game, and hopefully, I can build confidence from there.”
Canucks get good news on Tyler Myers injury
A scary incident happened late in the game when Tyler Myers was hit by a shot in the neck area. He was down on the ice for some time before skating off on his own feet.
Scary moment as Tyler Myers blocks a shot. Looks like it hit his neck or collarbone.
š„: Sportsnet | NHL#Canucks #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/5HVG1pxhNz
— CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) February 27, 2025
The good news is that the injury doesn’t seem to be serious.
“Right in the neck,” said Tocchet. “I think it hit a nerve; he was dizzy. He might be OK for tomorrow; he might’ve dodged a bullet. But yeah, I think he got hit right in the neck, might’ve saved a goal, I don’t know.”