Cancer. Major injuries. The death of a parent. The Vancouver Canucks have been through it all this season.
Yet another key Canucks player was sidelined Tuesday when the club announced that centre J.T. Miller has taken an indefinite leave for personal reasons.
Vancouver responded to the news with a gritty effort against the potent New York Rangers, but ultimately took a 4-3 loss.
香蕉视频直播淕uys are going through a lot, but I think that I香蕉视频直播檓 really proud of the way we responded tonight, and how we battled and competed,香蕉视频直播� captain Quinn Hughes said after the game.
香蕉视频直播淎nd I think we香蕉视频直播檝e got a really, really tight group 香蕉视频直播� that香蕉视频直播檚 going to make us stronger throughout the season. But I think we香蕉视频直播檝e just got a great coaching staff, great organization, management. And we香蕉视频直播檙e all in this together.香蕉视频直播�
The Canucks (9-6-3) announced at training camp that neither all-star goalie Thatcher Demko nor bruising winger Dakota Joshua would be ready to start the season. Joshua, fresh off a career-best season, missed the first 14 games of the campaign as he recovered from treatment for testicular cancer. Demko, who was up for the V茅zina Trophy as one of the league香蕉视频直播檚 top netminders last year, remains out of the lineup as he deals with a knee injury.
The losses mounted in mid-October when Derek Forbort stepped away following his father香蕉视频直播檚 death. The defenceman returned for one game, but has missed the last eight with a lower-body injury.
Brock Boeser, who had 40 goals for Vancouver last season, was sidelined on Nov. 7 after being hit in the head by L.A. Kings forward Tanner Jeannot.
香蕉视频直播淚 think in one way (the adversity) brings us closer together because, what everyone香蕉视频直播檚 going through, we香蕉视频直播檙e always going to have each other香蕉视频直播檚 back. And there香蕉视频直播檚 no difference with the news we got today,香蕉视频直播� said centre Elias Pettersson.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e always going to have each other香蕉视频直播檚 backs and whatever happens, we香蕉视频直播檙e just going to be there for each other.香蕉视频直播�
Forbort and Boeser both skated early on Tuesday morning and Demko has strung some solid practices together, said Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet, but when, exactly, the players will return remains unclear.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e gonna have some bodies coming back 香蕉视频直播� I don香蕉视频直播檛 know whether it香蕉视频直播檚 a week, two weeks 香蕉视频直播� with some all-star people. That香蕉视频直播檚 going to help,香蕉视频直播� Tocchet said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut in the meantime, some guys are getting some playing time and they香蕉视频直播檙e getting used to this kind of pressure. 香蕉视频直播� I think that that香蕉视频直播檚 valuable stuff.香蕉视频直播�
One Canuck who has seen his role elevated in recent weeks is Kiefer Sherwood, a speedy, punishing winger who has played alongside Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk in recent games with promising results.
Sherwood scored his fifth goal of the season and registered 10 hits on Tuesday.
While Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 lines have been thrown in a blender due to the absences, players have done a solid job of maintaining connection across the ice, Sherwood said.
香蕉视频直播淚 think it says a lot about the culture. Guys are able to come in and contribute. And I think a lot of the guys that are stepping in right now are playing the right way,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淪o it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 matter whose name is called, as long as they香蕉视频直播檙e ready and ready to contribute. That香蕉视频直播檚 all we can ask for.香蕉视频直播�
BABY WATCH
Canucks winger Conor Garland played Tuesday after missing morning skate due to the impending arrival of his first child.
The new-dad-to-be scored his fifth goal of the season and logged 20 minutes and 58 seconds of ice time.
After getting off the ice, Garland rushed back to his wife香蕉视频直播檚 side.
香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 gonna probably have a baby here soon,香蕉视频直播� Tocchet told reporters after the game. 香蕉视频直播淲as up at three in the morning, was up again at seven, no sleep. And you know, he was our best player. So what can you say? You love the kid.香蕉视频直播�
HOME ICE ADVANTAGE?
Tuesday concluded a six-game homestand where the Canucks went 2-4-0. The team香蕉视频直播檚 record at Rogers Arena fell to 3-5-3.
Vancouver remains one of the league香蕉视频直播檚 best road squads this season, though, with a 6-1-0 record.
