Thatcher Demko is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. But Quinn Hughes was on the practice ice Tuesday in a non-contact jersey at Rogers Arena.
But they need their catalyst to make it all happen.
That concern was eased Tuesday on two fronts.
U.S. head coach Mike Sullivan announced Hughes would replace the injured Charlie McAvoy. However, there would have to be another injury or illness among the six defencemen for Hughes to suit up, or even practise, before the event final Thursday against Canada in Boston.
From a Canucks’ perspective, this is an encouraging development on two levels. Hughes is obviously well enough to at least be added as a 4-Nations lineup possibility — and even if he was allowed to play just one game — the likelihood of suffering an injury setback should be remote.
Then again, the heightened testosterone level between the teams in Saturday’s slugfest in Montreal might set the tone for a ferocious and fight-filled finale.
The recalled Ty Young and Jonathan Lemieux are the goaltending tandem for Abbotsford.
Demko reacted awkwardly to a pre-game warm-up shot Feb. 8 at Rogers Arena and it was a sign that something wasn’t right. And when he flexed his left knee after making a first-period save — and then gave way to Lankinen after six saves in 10 minutes in what would be a 2-1 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs — there was reason to wonder.
“I don’t think it’s that’s serious, but I don’t know,” Tocchet said post-game. “From early reports, it’s not the knee.”
Demko’s 3-1-1 run before that game featured an encouraging 1.25 goal-against average, .952 save percentage and a shutout. That freak popliteus knee muscle injury on April 21 was in the rear-view mirror of a long and arduous rehab.
More importantly, a 6-1-1 run has the Canucks positioned for a stretch-drive delivery.
Pettersson logged just 9:54 on Monday in Sweden’s satisfying 2-1 win over the U.S. and had only two third-period shifts. That said a lot of not being an answer to build or protect the lead.
It was thought that Pettersson could apply his 2018 and 2019 world championship efforts — a combined 13 points (4-9) in 13 games — to enjoy the experience. And to also forget his disconnected recent run of just five points (1-4) in 14 games after missing four games with an upper-body injury.
And, of course, questions will arise again. Was Pettersson ill at the 4-Nations? Is he hurt or just in a massive confidence-zapping funk? He has just six even-strength goals through 49 games — 11 goals and 34 points — and hasn’t scored in his last nine games.
Despite his dramatic drop-off in production the NHL playoffs are looking a reachable target.
If you set the playoff bar at 96 points, the 26-18-11 club has 63 points and requires 33 more in 27 games and could hit that mark by going 14-8-5. Or, even just 12-12-9, especially with a penchant for getting games to overtime but squandering the extra point on 11 occasions.
The Canucks are also coming off the break with impressive wins over the Colorado Avalanche and the Leafs. Their schedule resumes Saturday with a five-game road trip. It opens with back-to-back tests in Vegas and Salt Lake City, and there’s another double dip in L.A. and Anaheim on Feb. 26-27. Demko splitting the cage with Lankinen for the back-to-backs makes sense.
OVERTIME: The Canucks have signed big, speedy and smart winger Drew O’Connor to a two-year extension that carries an annual average value of US$2.5 million.