Canucks’ Quinn Hughes sidelined with lower-body injury

Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes will miss his second straight contest Tuesday versus the Colorado Avalanche due to a lower-body ailment.

Hughes did not dress versus the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday and also missed a four-game stretch earlier this season after suffering an undisclosed injury.

Through 47 appearances with Vancouver this season, the reigning Norris Trophy winner leads the Canucks with 59 points counting 14 goals and 45 assists. Across the NHL, Hughes sits 13th in scoring and first among defensemen, one point ahead of Cale Makar of the Avalanche and two up on Columbus Blue Jackets rearguard Zach Werenski.

Originally chosen seventh overall by Vancouver in the 2018 NHL Draft, Hughes has recorded 57 goals and 335 assists for 392 points, underscored by last season’s 92-point finish. Hughes has also tallied two goals and 24 assists for 26 points through 30 appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

A native of Orlando, Fla., the 25-year-old defenseman will compete with the American squad at the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off to be held February 12-20 in Boston and Montreal. Hughes’ past participation in international competition includes bronze and silver medal wins at the World Juniors as well as a gold-medal finish at the IIHF Under-18 World Championship.

For the Canucks, the club enters Tuesday’s contest against the Avalanche with a 23-18-11 record and two points behind the Pacific Division rival Calgary Flames for the second wildcard seed in the Western Conference. Against the Red Wings on Sunday, the Canucks fell 3-2 in overtime, with forwards Pius Suter and new recruit Filip Chytil providing the offense in the losing effort.

Hughes’ exit from the lineup follows a hectic week in Vancouver that saw former forward J.T. Miller shipped to the New York Rangers, while defenseman Marcus Pettersson was added in a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins.