logo
CanucksArmy has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Scenes from morning skate: Quinn Hughes returns as Canucks close out road trip vs. Predators
alt
Photo credit: © Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Jeff Paterson
Nov 3, 2025, 14:30 ESTUpdated: Nov 3, 2025, 21:00 EST
Comments
The Vancouver Canucks (6-7) wrap up their three-game swing through the Central Division when they visit the Nashville Predators  (5-6-2) in a 5:30 pm PT faceoff at Bridgestone Arena.
And the Canucks will welcome captain Quinn Hughes back to the lineup after missing the past four games with a groin injury.

What we saw

The Canucks skated this morning, but according to those on scene, did not conduct line rushes. With no extra healthy forwards on the road trip, it seems almost certain the team will ice the same forward combinations used in Saturday’s 5-2 loss against the Minnesota Wild. The big change comes on defence where Hughes draws in for P-O Joseph. That means that rookie Tom Willander remains in the lineup and will play his fourth NHL game tonight in the city where he was drafted 11th overall in 2023.
Vancouver managed to go 2-2 without Hughes who last played on October 25th against the Montreal Canadiens. Hughes has a goal, six assists and 18 shots on goal in the nine games he has played this season.
Drew O’Connor scored his first two goals of the season on Saturday in Minnesota. He has two goals and two assists in his past two outings. With Kiefer Sherwood’s hat trick on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues, he and O’Connor have accounted for all five Canucks goals on this road trip. Aatu Räty has three assists in the past two outings. Thatcher Demko will make his second straight start in goal after allowing four goals on 27 shots against the Wild. 
Jake DeBrusk has just one goal in his last eight games while Brock Boeser has one in his last seven. 
Tonight’s game concludes a gruelling starting stretch to the Canucks 2025-26 schedule. The team is playing on the road for the ninth time in 14 games. The Canucks have been as far south as Dallas, as far east as Washington, have already played in every NHL time zone and have been to Nashville twice.

The Opponent

The Preds return to action after defeating the Calgary Flames 4-2 at home on Saturday afternoon. Jonathan Marchessault, Michael Bunting, Matthew Wood and Filip Forsberg scored the Nashville goals while Juuse Saros made 33 saves in net. Tonight, Saros will start for the 12th time in 14 games this season. The Preds netminder has faced more shots than any other goalie in the league this season.
The win over the Flames snapped a three-game losing streak in which Nashville had been outscored 12-5. It was the team’s third win in the past 10 games.
Nashville is without captain Roman Josi who is listed as week-to-week with an upper body injury. In his absence, Brady Skjei and Nick Perbix have formed the Preds’ top defensive duo. Filip Forsberg and Ryan O’Reilly share the team lead with five goals and nine points apiece.
The Predators have struggled mightily on the power play this season going five for 40 (12.5%). However, the team has scored a PPG in three of its last four games. Marchessault scored his team leading second goal of the season with the man advantage on Saturday. 
Steven Stamkos has just one goal and one assist through the first 13 games this season. He has yet to score a 5-on-5 goal and has gone eight games now without finding the back of the net.

News and notes

This is the second time in 10 days the Canucks have wrapped up a road trip in Music City. They fell 2-1 on October 23rd. Max Sasson had the lone Vancouver goal that night. Veteran centre Ryan O’Reilly scored a shorthanded goal for Nashville in that game. It was just the second time in 50 career games that O’Reilly has scored against Vancouver. He has yet to score an even-strength goal against the Canucks. 
After tonight, the Canucks will return home for four games starting on Wednesday against Chicago. Head Coach Adam Foote said this morning that Conor Garland ‘is close’ to returning to the lineup. And he figured Teddy Blueger would be the next player back after that. 
The referees for tonight’s game are Jake Brenk and Francis Charron.
Don’t forget to join Rink Wide Vancouver for full postgame coverage after this game – and every game. The livestream starts moments after the final buzzer. Rink Wide is the place for full postgame analysis and discussion. Join the live YouTube chat with your thoughts on the hockey game.
Sponsored by bet365

Editorials

Breaking News