Cancer. Major injuries. The death of a parent. The Vancouver Canucks have been through it all this season.
Yet another key Canucks player was sidelined Tuesday when the club announced that centre J.T. Miller has taken an indefinite leave for personal reasons.
Vancouver responded to the news with a gritty effort against the potent New York Rangers, but ultimately took a 4-3 loss.
91裸聊视频淕uys are going through a lot, but I think that I91裸聊视频檓 really proud of the way we responded tonight, and how we battled and competed,91裸聊视频� captain Quinn Hughes said after the game.
91裸聊视频淎nd I think we91裸聊视频檝e got a really, really tight group 91裸聊视频� that91裸聊视频檚 going to make us stronger throughout the season. But I think we91裸聊视频檝e just got a great coaching staff, great organization, management. And we91裸聊视频檙e all in this together.91裸聊视频�
The Canucks (9-6-3) announced at training camp that neither all-star goalie Thatcher Demko nor bruising winger Dakota Joshua would be ready to start the season. Joshua, fresh off a career-best season, missed the first 14 games of the campaign as he recovered from treatment for testicular cancer. Demko, who was up for the V茅zina Trophy as one of the league91裸聊视频檚 top netminders last year, remains out of the lineup as he deals with a knee injury.
The losses mounted in mid-October when Derek Forbort stepped away following his father91裸聊视频檚 death. The defenceman returned for one game, but has missed the last eight with a lower-body injury.
Brock Boeser, who had 40 goals for Vancouver last season, was sidelined on Nov. 7 after being hit in the head by L.A. Kings forward Tanner Jeannot.
91裸聊视频淚 think in one way (the adversity) brings us closer together because, what everyone91裸聊视频檚 going through, we91裸聊视频檙e always going to have each other91裸聊视频檚 back. And there91裸聊视频檚 no difference with the news we got today,91裸聊视频� said centre Elias Pettersson.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e always going to have each other91裸聊视频檚 backs and whatever happens, we91裸聊视频檙e just going to be there for each other.91裸聊视频�
Forbort and Boeser both skated early on Tuesday morning and Demko has strung some solid practices together, said Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet, but when, exactly, the players will return remains unclear.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e gonna have some bodies coming back 91裸聊视频� I don91裸聊视频檛 know whether it91裸聊视频檚 a week, two weeks 91裸聊视频� with some all-star people. That91裸聊视频檚 going to help,91裸聊视频� Tocchet said. 91裸聊视频淏ut in the meantime, some guys are getting some playing time and they91裸聊视频檙e getting used to this kind of pressure. 91裸聊视频� I think that that91裸聊视频檚 valuable stuff.91裸聊视频�
One Canuck who has seen his role elevated in recent weeks is Kiefer Sherwood, a speedy, punishing winger who has played alongside Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk in recent games with promising results.
Sherwood scored his fifth goal of the season and registered 10 hits on Tuesday.
While Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 lines have been thrown in a blender due to the absences, players have done a solid job of maintaining connection across the ice, Sherwood said.
91裸聊视频淚 think it says a lot about the culture. Guys are able to come in and contribute. And I think a lot of the guys that are stepping in right now are playing the right way,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淪o it doesn91裸聊视频檛 matter whose name is called, as long as they91裸聊视频檙e ready and ready to contribute. That91裸聊视频檚 all we can ask for.91裸聊视频�
BABY WATCH
Canucks winger Conor Garland played Tuesday after missing morning skate due to the impending arrival of his first child.
The new-dad-to-be scored his fifth goal of the season and logged 20 minutes and 58 seconds of ice time.
After getting off the ice, Garland rushed back to his wife91裸聊视频檚 side.
91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檚 gonna probably have a baby here soon,91裸聊视频� Tocchet told reporters after the game. 91裸聊视频淲as up at three in the morning, was up again at seven, no sleep. And you know, he was our best player. So what can you say? You love the kid.91裸聊视频�
HOME ICE ADVANTAGE?
Tuesday concluded a six-game homestand where the Canucks went 2-4-0. The team91裸聊视频檚 record at Rogers Arena fell to 3-5-3.
Vancouver remains one of the league91裸聊视频檚 best road squads this season, though, with a 6-1-0 record.
