Miller missed Vancouver's practice on Monday due to maintenance and was a game-time decision on Tuesday in Chicago as he deals with an undisclosed ailment. The 31-year-old sparkplug has struggled out of the gate so far this season, with just two goals, three points and five PIMs in his first five games played.
In mid-September, the Canucks announced that 28-year-old Dakota Joshua had been diagnosed with testicular cancer and successfully had a tumor removed but would not be ready for the start of training camp. The fifth-year winger is coming off his best season in 2023-24, with 18 goals, 32 points, 60 PIMs, 84 SOG, and a +19 plus/minus through 63 games played and could return to the lineup by November.
Lankinen has been tremendous to start the season and, at least while Thatcher Demko (lower body) continues to be sidelined, seems to have taken over the reins of the crease for the Canucks. The 29-year-old Lankinen has allowed two or fewer goalies in each of his three outings (2-0-1), boasting a sensational 1.28 GAA and .953 SV%. The Canucks enter action on Tuesday as -178 road favorites against a Chicago Blackhawks club that has scored two or fewer goals in two of their last three outings (1-2-0).
Miller missed Vancouver's practice on Monday due to maintenance and will be a game-time decision on Tuesday in Chicago as he deals with an undisclosed ailment. The 31-year-old sparkplug has struggled out of the gate so far this season, with just two goals, three points and five PIMs in his first five games played.
The Canucks are winless in three games this season and will turn to Lankinen between the pipes on Thursday against the Florida Panthers. Despite losing 3-2 in a shootout, Lankinen was stellar, the best goaltending performance this season for the Canucks, saving 29 of 31 shots (.935 SV%). The Canucks enter the action on Thursday as slight -106 road favorites against a Panthers club without their two biggest offensive threats, Matthew Tkachuk (illness) and Aleksander Barkov (lower body).
Erik Brannstrom has been recalled from Abbottsford (AHL) and will draw into the Canucks' lineup as Forbort's replacement. In three games this season, the 32-year-old Forbort has one point (0G / 1A), five blocks, and one hit.
With Derek Forbort (personal) being away from the team, Vancouver has recalled Brannstrom from the Abbortsford Canucks (AHL). The 25-year-old Brannstrom was signed to a one-year contract in the offseason before being traded to the Canucks earlier this month. Brannstrom spent last season with the Ottawa Senators, tallying 20 points (3G / 17A) in 76 games.
Raty played the first three games of the season for the Canucks, tallying one assist, but has been sent down to the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL). The 21-year-old Raty spent most of the 2023-24 season with Abbotsford in the AHL, scoring an impressive 52 points (18G / 34A) in 72 games.
Myers has not played since leaving Friday's game with a lower-body injury after only one shift. He had five goals and 24 assists in 77 games with the Canucks last season.
Daniel Sprong will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Bains to make his season debut. The 23-year-old Bains spent most of the 2023-24 campaign with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL), tallying an impressive 55 points (16G / 39A) in 59 games and could be in line for a more prominent role in the NHL this season.
Myers has not played since leaving Friday's game with a lower-body injury after only one shift. If Myers is unable to play, Vincent Desharnais will likely draw into the lineup as his replacement.
Kevin Lankinen was excellent in the Canucks' previous game, saving 29 of 31 shots (.935 SV%) in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Still, the team will opt to return to Silovs between the pipes on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Silovs struggled in his only outing this season, allowing six goals on 26 shots (.769 SV%) in a 6-5 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames. The 23-year-old Silovs has a 2.95 GAA and .885 SV% through 10 career NHL games (6-2-2). The Canucks enter action as +124 road underdogs against the Lightning.
Myers left in the first period of Friday's game vs. the Flyers and did not return. Myers was unable to put any weight on his right leg. The Canucks did not provide an update on Myers post-game but consider him questionable for Tuesday's game in Tampa.
Noah Juulsen will draw into the lineup on Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers to replace Desharnais. The 28-year-old Desharnais, in his first season with the Canucks, played 13:11 in their season opener, recording four penalty minutes and a -2 plus/minus.
