Preview: Canucks at Blue Jackets

CANUCKS (23-24-6) at BLUE JACKETS (34-13-5)
7 p.m. ET; FS-O, SNP, NHL.TV

Canucks team scope

Forward Reid Boucher will play for the first time since making his Vancouver Canucks debut on Jan. 17. Boucher was claimed off waivers from the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 4. He has been a scratch in the past seven games but coach Willie Desjardins indicated the 23-year-old will be used on the power play and be given an opportunity to earn a spot in the lineup. "I'm very excited," Boucher said. "It's been a while since I've played a game so I'm really looking forward to it. It's a little frustrating but I've had positive talks with the coaching staff. I'm trying to work hard in practice and be ready when I'm given the chance." Boucher replaces forward Sven Baertschi, who sustained a concussion after a hit by Nashville Predators forward Cody McLeod on Tuesday. Desjardins said more will be known of Baertschi's status Friday. The Canucks look to end a four-game losing streak (0-4-0) in the second of a six-game road trip. Vancouver is 1-4-2 in its past seven road games and 3-6-3 overall in its past 12.

Blue Jackets team scope

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Josh Anderson will play after being held out of the third period of a 3-2 overtime loss at the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday because of the NHL's concussion protocol. "He's not concussed," coach John Tortorella said. Anderson was clipped on the chin at the end of the second period by Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith. An NHL spotter said Anderson needed to be checked by the Red Wings physician because the Blue Jackets doctor did not travel. "He said maybe things are a little bit off," Anderson said. "I did a couple of physical things in the room there and everything went well. [The spotter] said, 'We're just taking a precaution right now and see how you feel tomorrow.' I told them I was ready to go and play. … I was definitely frustrated." Anderson said he was still feeling the effects of missing the game Saturday against the Devils because of sickness. "That whole game coming back from the flu and everything like that, I just didn't feel like myself. I think that played into a factor," he said. Anderson was cleared by the medical staff on Wednesday.

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Canucks projected lineup

Daniel Sedin -- Henrik Sedin -- Markus Granlund
Alexandre Burrows -- Bo Horvat -- Jannik Hansen
Jayson Megna -- Brandon Sutter -- Loui Eriksson
Jack Skille -- Michael Chaput -- Reid Boucher
Alexander Edler -- Troy Stetcher
Luca Sbisa -- Chris Tanev
Alex Biega -- Nikita Tryamkin
Ryan Miller
Jacob Markstrom
Scratched: Philip Larsen, Ben Hutton
Injured: Derek Dorsett (neck), Erik Gudbranson (wrist), Anton Rodin (knee), Sven Baertschi (concussion)

Blue Jackets projected lineup

Brandon Saad -- Alex Wennberg -- Nick Foligno
Boone Jenner -- Brandon Dubinsky -- Cam Atkinson
Matt Calvert -- William Karlsson -- Josh Anderson
Scott Hartnell -- Lukas Sedlak -- Sam Gagner
Zach Werenski -- Seth Jones
Markus Nutivaara -- Jack Johnson
Scott Harrington -- Ryan Murray
Sergei Bobrovsky
Joonas Korpisalo
Scratched: Dalton Prout, Oliver Bjorkstrand
Injured:David Savard (back)

Status report

Miller will start after Markstrom made 32 saves in the loss to Nashville. … Bjorkstrand was recalled from Cleveland of the American Hockey League on emergency loan on Wednesday but will be scratched with Anderson playing.

Who's hot

Horvat has a goal and an assist in each of his past two games. … Jones has eight points (three goals, five assists) in his past seven games. Wennberg has eight points (two goals, six assists) in his past seven.