The 28-year-old forward missed a 2-1 shootout win against the Florida Panthers on Saturday with an upper-body injury sustained Sept. 23. The Canucks have allowed 12 goals in losing their past two games but coach Travis Green said he will not make changes to the defense pairs Thursday. Goalie Anders Nilsson will make his first start of the season.
Players to watch
Rookie center Elias Pettersson leads the Canucks with six points (three goals, three assists) in three games. Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov didn't have a point or a shot on goal against the Panthers on Saturday. He was held without a shot on goal in a game twice last season.
They said it
"He brings a lot of speed, he brings a good two-way game and he's solid in his zone. He might be a fit. We'll see." -- Canucks coach Travis Green on forward Tyler Motte and the possibility of playing him on a line with with Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser "You never want to sit out when everyone else is playing. I just want to get back out there and play with the guys and being in that competitive environment, battling and doing all the stuff we do." -- Lightning forward Tyler Johnson on his return to the lineup.
Green was non-committal on his forward lines and said that 13 forwards will skate during warmup with the possibility of Motte drawing into the lineup. ... With Johnson returning, Palat was moved to the first line and Miller shifted to the fourth line.
Stat pack
Vasilevskiy had 42 saves in the season-opening win against the Panthers. ... Edler has four assists in the past two games.
