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Canucks: Playoff picture fading with injury to another key centerman

By Brayden Ursel

VANCOUVER, BC - MARCH 22: Bo Horvat #53 of the Vancouver Canucks reacts after getting hit with the puck while standing in front of goalie Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets during the third period of NHL action at Rogers Arena on March 22, 2021 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - MARCH 22: Bo Horvat #53 of the Vancouver Canucks reacts after getting hit with the puck while standing in front of goalie Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets during the third period of NHL action at Rogers Arena on March 22, 2021 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /
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The Vancouver Canucks took another major blow last night when their captain, Bo Horvat, left the game and did not return. The 25-year-old two-way centre was parked in front of the Winnipeg Jets net when he suddenly was struck in the foot with a booming slapshot from Alex Edler.

Horvat appeared to be in a great amount of discomfort. Players from the Jets bench must have felt his pain because they did not hesitate to reach out with their sticks and try and help him off the ice. It was a gesture of good sportsmanship, but for the Canucks, it’s a crushing loss to another star player.

The severity of the injury has not been made public, but it’s not hard to imagine that Horvat will likely miss some time. Travis Green stated that he had no update on Horvat, and no update on Sutter either. The Canucks have one more game against the Jets on Wednesday night before the team takes a much-needed seven-day break.

Horvat becomes the fourth centreman on the Canucks to be taken down, and if he is going to miss time, he’ll join the elite Elias Pettersson, and veterans Brandon Sutter and Jay Beagle on the sidelines.

I’m sorry, but Vancouver just doesn’t have the horses to keep up at this point. The depth at the centre position just isn’t there, and without the team’s two star forwards available, the playoff picture is fading fast.

Thatcher Demko is already standing on his head on a night-to-night basis, and you can’t expect him to manage that star power until the end of the regular season. Vancouver’s only hope remains within the bi-week. Hopefully, it’s enough time for the team to rest up, get healthy, and in game-shape for a grinding and gruelling playoff battle.

Pettersson could be close to a return after the break, and the public should know more about Horvat’s status later today or within the coming days. It’ll be interesting to see how Green decides to form his lineup on Wednesday. Fingers crossed the injury to the Canucks captain isn’t as serious as it looked on Monday night.

Next. The Canucks claim centre Travis Boyd off waivers. dark

The Canucks need Horvat back in the lineup as soon as possible. Their playoff hopes are depending on it.

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