The Vancouver Canucks will be without Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson for their duel against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday (4 p.m. ET; SNP, KONG, KING 5, KHN).
Hughes, who leads the Canucks with 42 points (eight goals, 34 assists) in 34 games this season, was a questionable case for his team’s most recent game on Dec. 23, but ultimately played and recorded two assists in 24:45 into a 4-2 win over the San Jose Sharks.
“Hughes is obviously quite a player,” coach Rick Tocchet said of his captain. We can’t replace him, but I want to see our group play solid defensively, especially without the puck. »
Pettersson was also in uniform against the Sharks and scored two goals to end a six-game point drought. However, he only made one appearance on the ice in the third period.
Pettersson is the Canucks’ second-highest scorer with 28 points (10 goals, 18 assists) in 34 games.
“We have to hold on, keep the mentality that everyone has to give more,” Tocchet said Friday. Now more than ever, and I know we’ve talked about it. We have to play as a team, everyone has to give five percent more. »
Defenseman Erik Brannstrom, who has been left out for the last three games, will be inserted into the lineup to make up for the loss of Hughes.
