Speaking to reporters following the Canucks morning skate, head coach Travis Green confirmed that Chris Tanev suffered a groin strain in Wednesday’s 7-1 loss to the Nashville Predators and that he’ll be sidelined for two-to-three weeks.
Tanev suffered the injury absorbing a hit in the third period of the Canucks loss to the Predators on Wednesday. Eventually, Tanev returned to the ice and tried to take a shift, but as he transitioned play up ice and tried to hit full stride, he tweaked the injury and hobbled back to the Canucks bench. From there, he was out of the game for good.
In 25 games with the Canucks this season, Tanev has six points (two goals and four assists). This is Tanev’s second stint on the shelf this season, as he missed time earlier with an upper-body injury. As TSN’s Jeff Paterson pointed out, this is starting to become something of a recurring theme with Tanev.
According to Green, Erik Gudbranson is close to returning from his injury, though, it doesn’t sound imminent, which means Alex Biega is likely to draw in tonight against the San Jose Sharks. Brandon Sutter is likely 7-10 days away from returning himself.