Boeser & Fantenberg in concussion protocol as Canucks host Sens in rematch (senators)

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Boeser & Fantenberg in concussion protocol as Canucks host Sens in rematch

By Carol Schram

Sep 25, 2019 • 2:10 pm

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Wednesday September 25 - Vancouver Canucks vs. Ottawa Senators - 7 p.m. - Sportsnet One, Sportsnet 650

PRESEASON:

Vancouver Canucks: 6 GP, 4-2-0, 8 pts, second in Pacific Division Ottawa Senators: 4 GP, 2-2-0, 4 pts, sixth in Atlantic Division

As Vancouver Canucks fans are well aware, injuries are part of hockey. But the preamble to the Canucks' 50th anniversary season had been proceeding without much serious injury discussion - until Monday night.

The team announced Tuesday that both Brock Boeser and Oscar Fantenberg are in concussion protocol after taking hard hits during the win over the Ottawa Senators on Monday in Abbotsford.

Fantenberg was knocked to the ice and did not return after this first-period collision.

Boeser stayed in the game after this third-period check by behind by Chris Tierney, with the Sens already shorthanded.

Bo Horvat scored Vancouver's sixth and final goal of the night on the ensuing 5-on-3 powerplay.

Though Boeser stayed in the game, Thomas Drance of The Athletic reported on Tuesday that he was "in treatment," starting Monday night. Travis Green added on Tuesday that Boeser felt OK until there were about three minutes left in the game, and said Wednesday that Boeser is currently considered day-to-day.

As we're aware, players who go into concussion protocol have to stay out of action for a least a week - and possibly longer, of course, depending how their symptoms progress.

The first night of the regular season is now exactly one week away. If Boeser and Fantenberg are on IR longer for more than seven days, that could give Jim Benning a little more flexibility regarding his roster decisions, at least in the short term.

Revenge is always on fans' minds after one of their stars gets injured, especially on a hit from behind, but that will have to wait. Chris Tierney is not on the Sens' roster for the rematch on Wednesday at Rogers Arena.

Here's how the Canucks will roll out their lines.

Micheal Ferland did skate with the team at 8 Rinks on Tuesday but he and Elias Pettersson won't dress against the Sens. The Edler-Myers pairing also gets a night off, with Guillaume Brisebois and Jalen Chatfield taking over third-pairing duties.

Both Jake Virtanen and Nikolay Goldobin will play, and Adam Gaudette's audition continues in a third-line centre role. Home fans will also get a looks at Schaller-Beagle-Motte again, after they had such a good game last week in Edmonton.

Thatcher Demko is expected to get the start, after Jacob Markstrom went the distance on Monday in Abbotsford.

It's a shame that Boeser only saw two games of action - neither of them even available on regular television - and didn't even get a game at Rogers Arena before he was injured. From what we saw, he looked fit and was skating well, but probably needed a few more reps to get his shot to maximum accuracy.

In other news - chatter about whether the Canucks will name a captain this year is heating up ahead of opening night.

Though Jim Benning was non-committal with him during training camp, Iain MacIntyre is all in on Bo Horvat.

And Elias Pettersson himself squashed talk of his one-timer spot being nicknamed "Area 51." I don't blame him - I'm not the biggest fan of "The Alien," as a nickname, either - and Area 51 is a bit confusing - it sounds like it should be Troy Stecher's magic spot. If anything, maybe it could have been adapted to "Area 40?"

But never mind. The boss gets the last word.

Since we won't get any Petterzone action in tonight's game, let me leave you with this to roll through the rest of your day. Check out these goal descriptions!

And enjoy the game!

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