The injury bug has hit the Vancouver Canucks in the preseason.

Late in the first period, Canucks forward Filip Chytil collided with a referee’s skate in the offensive zone. The collision sent Chytil into the boards off balance, with his shoulder making first contact. Chytil then found himself face down on the ice with his skates above the boards.

Chytil got up quickly and skated to the bench. But per the Sportsnet broadcast, he briefly walked down the tunnel. He would return after a quick walk-off to join his teammates on the bench. After sitting there for a few minutes, Chytil left the bench again and walked down the tunnel with the trainer, clearly nursing what appeared to be a shoulder injury.

He did not return for the remainder of the first period and did not join his teammates for the second period. Shortly after, the team announced that Chytil would not be returning to the game.

The Czech forward has struggled with injuries throughout his nine-year NHL career. Chytil has battled through numerous head injuries, three of which have come during his two years in Vancouver.

After being acquired from the New York Rangers in the JT Miller trade, Chytil was hit hard in the numbers along the boards by Jason Dickinson. He played just 15 games in a Canucks uniform, scoring two goals and six points during that stint.

In Game 6 of last season, Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson hit Chytil on the open ice, leaving him lying on the ice. Chytil would miss the next 45 games before returning in late January. He saw another six-game stint, during which they experimented with him on the wing, but after taking a puck to the face in an Olympic break practice, Chytil missed the rest of the season.

We will wait to hear from head coach Manny Malhotra postgame for an update on Chytil’s status.