Official Injury Updates

This is the official injury update from Canucks.com:

Ryan Kesler made his return to the lineup Wednesday night after missing 35 games because hip surgery but will not return for game two against the Stars Friday. Kesler is expected to be out four to five weeks after blocking a shot and displaced his finger.

Matt Cooke, who left in the second period of Wednesday’s game is listed as day-to-day wild a mild groin strain and Alex Burrows is also day-to-day with an upper body injury that saw him limp his way to bench in the first overtime period.

The Canucks recalled Jannik Hansen and Nathan Smith of the Manitoba Moose Thursday afternoon as a precautionary measure in case Cooke and Burrows can’t dress Friday night. Smith will likely see time on the PK and Vigneault hopes Hansen will help balance out the roster with some offensive punch if he dresses for game two against Dallas.

Brent Sopel is hopeful for his return Friday night. Dany Sabourin and Tommi Santala were the only two players that took to the ice Thursday while the rest of the team did off-ice workouts.

Canucks recall Smith and Hansen

The Vancouver Canucks announced today that centre Nathan Smith and winger Jannik Hansen has been recalled from the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.

Matt Cooke, Alexandre Burrows, and Ryan Kesler were injured last night and will not play tomorrow in Game 2.
Cooke is out with a groin stain and is day-to-day.
Burrows is out with a upper-body injury. Looks like to me that Burrows might have a concussion as he couldn’t get up after the hit delivered to him. If it is a concussion, he will be out for at least one week.

Kesler broke his finger in the game and will be out 4-5 weeks.

Both Tommi Santala and Jannik Hansen are expected to be dressed tomorrow in Game 2. If Kesler can’t go tomorrow, Nathan Smith will get into the lineup.

If anybody cares: Hansen wore #59 with the Canucks during the preseason and currently wears #17 with the Moose. He won’t be wearing #17 since it is Kesler’s number. He will most likely switch to a lower number.

Hansen was also one of the last cuts for the Canucks in the preseason.

Ohlund out up to one week

Mattias Ohlund will miss up to one week with a sore elbow.

Willie Mitchell is expected to return to the lineup tomorrow against Colorado and Sami Salo has a 50/50 chance of returning tomorrow.

Source: News 1130

We can only hope that Mitchell will be back tomorrow, or the Canucks will most likely recall Yannick Tremblay from the Manitoba Moose. If that’s the case, the pairings will most likely be: Krajicek with Sopel, Alexander Edler with Kevin Bieksa, and Rory Fitzpatrick with Yannick Tremblay. If Mitchell is back, pairings will most likely be: Willie Mitchell with Kevin Bieksa, Lukas Krajicek with Kevin Bieksa, and Alexander Edler with Rory Fitzpatrick. If both Salo and Mitchell are back, expect the pairings to be: Willie Mitchell with Kevin Bieksa, Lukas Krajicek with Sami Salo, and Alexander Edler with Rory Fitzpatrick.