Daily Primer Feb. 3: Tortorella returns for Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks won twice during coach John Tortorella's 15-day suspension, but they will have their bench boss back Monday night.

Tortorella is set to return when Vancouver faces the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena (7:30 p.m. ET (SNET-P, FS-D+).

Here's a closer look at the action Monday:

Edmonton Oilers at Buffalo Sabres -- It's the first game between these teams since Jan. 3, 2012. The Oilers continue a four-game road trip; they will face the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils later in the week before the Olympic break. Buffalo has lost six in a row at First Niagara Center; the Sabres' last home win came on Jan. 4.

Ottawa Senators at Pittsburgh Penguins -- Ottawa's three-game road trip continues after it opened it up with a 6-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday. The Senators held a 2-0 lead at 6:46 of the second period, but then allowed three straight goals en route to defeat. The Penguins return to Consol Energy Center after splitting two games out west; Pittsburgh beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-1 on Thursday before sustaining a 3-1 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday.

Vancouver Canucks at Detroit Red Wings -- The Canucks fell to 2-4-0 in Tortorella's absence when they sustained a 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Friday in the opener of a five-game road trip. Vancouver will also hope to have its captain back; Henrik Sedin has missed six straight games due to injured ribs. Detroit avoided being shut out for a fourth straight time on the road, but still fell short in Washington on Sunday. The Red Wings' top line of Gustav Nyquist, Henrik Zetterberg and Justin Abdelkader produced five of the team's eight goals and amassed nine points against the Capitals in a weekend home-and-home series.

Colorado Avalanche at New Jersey Devils -- Colorado has won three in a row and eight of its past 10 games, including a 7-1 victory against the Sabres on Saturday. Nathan MacKinnon, the first pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, leads all rookies with 20 goals and 40 points. He has three goals and seven points in the past four games. The Devils have earned points in 10 of the past 13 games (6-3-4) and in 17 of their past 23. Goalie Cory Schneider made his ninth start in the past 12 games on Friday, stopping 30 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Nashville Predators.

Columbus Blue Jackets at Anaheim Ducks -- The Blue Jackets continue to make a case to be in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 11 wins in their past 15 games. Talented center Ryan Johansen continues to produce for Columbus with three goals and two assists in his past four games. Anaheim is in the third of a five-game homestand and looking to regain dominance on home ice. A loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Jan. 21 ended the Ducks' season-opening home unbeaten streak (20-0-2) and the team is 2-2-0 at Honda Center since then.

Chicago Blackhawks at Los Angeles Kings -- Chicago heads to Staples Center after a 2-1 shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, dropping the Blackhawks to 5-8 in the breakaway competition this season. Chicago will also visit the Ducks and Phoenix Coyotes before the Olympic break and will open the second half in New York to face the Rangers before returning home. The Kings are 1-7-1 in their past nine games and are in jeopardy of losing their grip on a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Despite recording 35 shots on goal, Los Angeles lost 2-0 to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday.

Philadelphia Flyers at San Jose Sharks -- Philadelphia's trip through California continues after blanking the Los Angeles Kings in a 2-0 win Saturday. Steve Mason made 35 saves for the Flyers, recording his second shutout in his past three appearances. It's the second of a four-game homestand for the Sharks; they earned a 2-1 shootout win against the Blackhawks on Saturday. San Jose has won seven of its past 10 games and sits firmly in second place in the Pacific Division.