OTTAWA - Ottawa Senators defenseman Jared Cowen will be out of the lineup for the first time this season for a game against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.
"I think Jared has struggled at times this year, and I think that it's time for him to watch a game and see if he can settle himself down and get himself back playing the way that we need him to play," Ottawa coach Paul MacLean said.
Cowen had hip surgery last November and missed most of last season after he was injured while playing for Binghamton of the American Hockey League during the lockout.
"I think we've been working with him, and being patient with him and continuing to put him on the ice, but his play has been inconsistent and, frankly, we need him to be a better player," MacLean said.
Senators defenseman Patrick Wiercioch is also a healthy scratch, while Mark Borowiecki and Eric Gryba return to the lineup.
Here are the probable lineups for the Canucks and Senators:
CANUCKS
Daniel Sedin – Henrik Sedin – Alexandre Burrows
David Booth – Ryan Kesler – Jannik Hansen
Chris Higgins – Mike Santorelli – Dale Weise
Tom Sestito – Brad Richardson – Zack Kassian
Alexander Edler – Jason Garrison
Dan Hamhuis – Christopher Tanev
Scratched: Jeremy Welsh, Andrew Alberts, Zac Dalpe
Injured: Jordan Schroeder (foot)
SENATORS
Milan Michalek – Jason Spezza - Mika Zibanejad
Clarke MacArthur – Kyle Turris – Bobby Ryan
Cory Conacher – Zack Smith – Chris Neil
Colin Greening – Derek Grant – Erik Condra
Scratched: Jared Cowen, Patrick Wiercioch, Matt Kassian