Vancouver Canucks forward Jannik Hansen will return Sunday after missing 16 games with an upper-body injury, coach Willie Desjardins said. Hansen will play on a line with center Henrik Sedin and left wing Daniel Sedin, Desjardins said. Goalie Jacob Markstrom will start after Ryan Miller left a 5-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning with a lower-body injury. The Canucks are playing the fourth of a five-game road trip.
Capitals team scope
Defenseman Matt Niskanen will play after missing one game with a concussion. Coach Barry Trotz said Niskanen will not be limited. Niskanen was injured when he was checked into the boards by Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron in a 4-3 overtime win Wednesday and went through the NHL concussion protocol. Niskanen skated at practice Saturday and took full contact but did not participate in line rushes. "I wanted to join the group today, and I was cleared to do that," Niskanen said. "I needed a little bit of extra work because I wasn't on the ice for a few days. I tested things out. I thought it went well so far."
Miller skated on his own after the Canucks morning skate in Sunrise, Florida, on Saturday. ... Demko was recalled from Utica of the American Hockey League on Saturday. ... The Capitals reassigned defenseman Aaron Ness to Hershey of the American Hockey League on Sunday.
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Who's hot
Johansson has six points in his past four games. … Kuznetsov has four points in three games. … Daniel Sedin has five points in four games.
