Hurt Boeser won’t face Wings, but Tanev may
DETROIT — It was starting to look like another November to remember for Brock Boeser.
Then came a groin tweak after an encouraging two-goal game Friday. Then came a maintenance day Saturday. And then came a brief pre-practice twirl Monday before the Vancouver Canucks’ right winger called it a day.
Boeser won’t play Tuesday against the Red Wings after feeling discomfort from a groin strain he initially suffered Oct. 18 in Winnipeg. And as much as the Canucks have to be cautious so the tweak doesn’t morph beyond a day-to-day concern, the timing couldn’t be worse.
A year ago, the Calder Trophy finalist had three two-goal games on a six-game trip. He was the talk of the town when the Canucks hit New York after scoring twice in back-to-back wins in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. There were even Pavel Bure comparisons.
Boeser appeared to be clear of any lingering ailments Friday because he took passes at full speed and his patented hard and accurate release was on full display. He had a career-high eight shots and 11 attempts in a wild 7-6 overtime win over Colorado. Brendan Leipsic took his practice spot Monday and coach Travis Green was left to provide the injury update.
“He tweaked his groin last game and it’s still bothering him,” said Green. “We’re just going to take it a day at a time. Guys play through a lot of bumps and bruises, and there’s being injured and there’s being hurt.
“When you walk through an NHL room, lots of guys have ice bags and a lot are banged up, but there are certain injuries if you can’t skate up to 100 per cent, we have to make sure we do right by him. He has to be able to play the way he can.”
Has Tanev’s time finally arrived? Chris Tanev practised in a pairing with Derrick Pouliot on Monday and, outside of any setbacks, expects to play Tuesday. The defenceman missed five games after being struck by a puck on the hip while blocking a shot Oct. 24 in Las Vegas.
“The puck just hit me and I’ve got gear everywhere there and I don’t know how it (puck) managed to find me in that spot,” Tanev said Monday. “It swelled up quite bad like a big hematoma or hippointer and we had to bring the swelling and bleeding from inside down.”
It was the same night that the Canucks lost Alex Edler to an MCL knee sprain and Sven Baertschi to a concussion.
“It took longer than expected and, to be honest, I thought I could play the next day (Oct. 25) or definitely the game after (Oct. 27), but it just didn’t work out,” recalled Tanev. “I tried to skate, but if I could play on one leg it would have been good. I tried to finish the (Las Vegas) game, but I was basically on the one leg and basically just sat there (on the bench) the last 10 minutes — just in case something happened because Eddie (Edler) had left already.
“It was quite painful and I apologized to the guys 10 times. We only had five ‘D’ most of the game and then they had to go to four.”