The 21-year-old forward, who leads NHL rookies with 29 goals and the Canucks with 55 points, could miss the rest of the season after injuring his back late in the third period of a 4-3 overtime win against the New York Islanders on Monday. Vancouver is 4-8-3 in its past 15 games and 18 points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference. Goalie Darcy Kuemper will make his second straight start for the Coyotes after Antti Raanta was a late scratch because of lower-body tightness prior to a 4-3 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Monday. Arizona is 2-0-1 in its past three games and has at least a point in 10 of its past 12 (8-2-2). The Coyotes are 26 points behind the Kings for the second wild card.
Players to watch
Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson has eight points (one goal, seven assists) in his past eight games. Canucks forward Daniel Sedin has 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in his past 11 games.
They said it
"We're all real excited with what's going on here now. Obviously, it took a little too long to get going but it's better late than never so hopefully we can this thing going and take that momentum into next year." -- Coyotes forward Max Domi "Bo [Horvat] and [Brendan Leipsic] are easy to play with, so it will be exciting to play with them again and a good opportunity." -- Canucks forward Jake Virtanen, who will play in Brock Boeser's spot on the top line after having one goal and one assist Monday
Boeser is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a soft-tissue injury and nonstructural, nondisplaced fracture of the transverse process in his lower back. ... Goligoski remains away from the Coyotes awaiting the birth of his second child. … Tanev, who will miss his 13th game, has resumed skating and is 7-10 days from returning. ... Raanta skated Wednesday and is a game-time decision to back up Kuemper.
Stat pack
Keller has two assists in his past seven games after eight points (three goals, five assists) in his previous five. … Horvat has 11 points (six goals, five assists) in his past 11 games.
