Canucks game day: Tyler Motte makes his return, Halak starts vs Ducks

As they attempt to salvage something from this three-game road trip, the Vancouver Canucks are in Anaheim to take on the Ducks tonight, and are getting a key body back in the lineup.

There was no morning skate today, but in his pre-game media availability, head coach Travis Green confirmed that Tyler Motte will be making his season debut tonight.

After undergoing neck surgery this offseason, Motte has been held out of the lineup up until this point. He’ll certainly be a welcome addition to the Canucks’ struggling penalty kill.

To make room for Motte, the Canucks have loaned defenceman Jack Rathbone to the Abbotsford Canucks, according to Thomas Drance of The Athletic.

“The good thing with frustration is that there’s an emotion there that comes from caring,” Motte told Brendan Batchelor. “That goes for our entire group and entire fanbase. It’s not sitting well with us. There’s no time like the present to try and turn this thing around.”

Green also revealed that his starter tonight will be Jaroslav Halak.

With the owner in the building, the Canucks are certainly looking to pick up a win against a Ducks team that they fell to in overtime last week.

Puck drop is at 5 PM from Honda Center.