Quinn Hughes is set to miss a second straight game when his Vancouver Canucks host the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old American defenceman briefly skated with his teammates Tuesday morning, then spoke with head coach Rick Tocchet and left the ice.
鈥淗e鈥檚 not going to play tonight,鈥� Tocchet said after morning skate. 鈥淗e wants to gut everything out, but it鈥檚 the right move.鈥�
The team will monitor Hughes鈥� status day to day, the coach added.
鈥淚鈥檝e seen with guys things linger, I鈥檝e seen some guys after 24 hours, and things help,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o we鈥檒l see how it goes.鈥�
Following Tuesday鈥檚 contest, the Canucks (23-18-11) visit the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.
Hughes also missed Vancouver鈥檚 3-2 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. Derek Forbort took his spot on the top defensive pair alongside Filip Hronek.
Hughes suffered an undisclosed injury in the Canucks鈥� 5-3 road loss to the Dallas Stars on Friday.
The reigning Norris Trophy winner as the league鈥檚 top blueliner leads all NHL defenceman in points with 14 goals and 45 assists across 47 appearances this season. He also leads the Canucks in points.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a special player,鈥� said Vancouver defenceman Tyler Myers. 鈥淭he way he controls the puck, the way he skates and his escapability on the ice 鈥� it opens things up for other guys each and every shift.鈥�
Vancouver has dealt with a series of absences this season, Myers added, and the team has talked a lot about what each player needs to do to fill the voids.
鈥淥bviously, being the player that (Hughes) is, it鈥檚 a big loss,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut sometimes just focusing on doing your job and not trying to do more or force anything more is all you have to do. And guys have done a really good job all year stepping up, and we鈥檙e going to have to do the same thing this week.鈥�
