As the Vancouver Canucks prepare for a very important weekend with back-to-back games at home, there was an encouraging sign when it comes to injured forward Nils Hoglander.
The Vancouver Canucks will be back in action on Saturday for the first of two games this weekend at Rogers Arena as they look to keep their playoff hopes alive against the Anaheim Ducks.
Nils Hoglander was back on the ice again today at the team's practice after being out for nearly two weeks due to an injury he sustained in New York and it appears he's taken a big step towards a potential return to the lineup.
Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Hoglander sheds non-contact jersey
Just after the Canucks hit the ice, Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet and Tyson Cole of Canucks Army shared that Nils Hoglander has shed his non-contact jersey and was back in a regular sweater for practice.
However there was some unfortunate news as well, as Tyler Myers was not on the ice for practice, nor was injured forward Elias Pettersson, who like Nils Hoglander, got hurt during their game on March 22nd against the New York Rangers.
"Nils Hoglander is in a normal coloured full contact jersey at #Canucks practice. Tyler Myers is absent. No sign of centre Elias Pettersson." Batchelor said.
Following today's skate at UBC, head coach Rick Tocchet met with reporters where he gave an update on Nils Hoglander, Tyler Myers, Elias Pettersson as well as Nils Aman, who left practice after crashing head-first into the boards.
Tocchet said that Nils Hoglander is getting close to a return to the lineup, but probably won't play on Saturday against the Anaheim Ducks.
The same goes for veteran defenseman Tyler Myers, as he unlikely to play tomorrow and is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.
Elias Pettersson is feeling better, according to Rick Tocchet, while Filip Chytil remains in concussion protocol and Nils Aman is currently being evaluated by the team's training staff.
"From Rick Tocchet:
-Myers is day to day. Probably won't play tomorrow. -Aman is being evaluated after leaving practice. -Petey is feeling better. Chytil still in protocol. -Hoglander is getting close but probably won't play tomorrow." Batchelor said.
Puck drop for tomorrow's game against Anaheim is set for 1 pm PT and can be viewed on Sportsnet Pacific in the Vancouver region.