Canucks' Kassian leaves with injury

VANCOUVER – Zack Kassian's return to the Vancouver Canucks lineup didn't last long.

In his return after missing two games with a back injury, Kassian had a long, spirited fight with Blues forward Chris Stewart just 2:41 into Tuesday night's game against St. Louis.

Both players threw wild punches, but few appeared to connect cleanly, and both players returned to action after serving their penalties.

Kassian played three more shifts in the period, and even said he was fine during a first-intermission radio interview, but wasn't on the bench to start the second period and the team announced shortly afterward that he would not return to the game. There was no other explanation or update given.

Kassian scored all five of his goals in the first seven games and has none in the past 19, but was a welcome addition to a Canucks team that is still missing center Ryan Kesler and lost fellow big-bodied wing David Booth to an ankle injury while Kassian was out with his sore back.