Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet has decided to scratch defenceman Erik Brännström for the second consecutive game.
The Canucks defenceman was scratched in their previous game against the St. Louis Blues and will remain in the press box for Thursday night’s contest against the defending Stanley Cup Champions Florida Panthers.
Here’s what Tocchet had to say regarding his decision to sit the left-shot defenceman.
“We’re built [in a way that] we can rotate D. I’m not sure we have guys that are consistently going to play every day. I think it’s okay to have a rotation.
“I think his defensive stuff has slipped a little bit. But I think he’s really been conscientious of it, and he’s had a couple good practices. He’ll get back in. I just think that, for me tonight, I like the righty [with] lefty and I think Frieds [Mark Friedman] can add a little bit of bite down low.”
Brännström made his Canucks debut in the fourth game of the season after a strong two-game stint in Abbotsford, posting three assists. Before missing the last game, the former first-round pick suited up in 23 consecutive games, registering three goals and four assists with an even rating in 14:57 minutes of ice time. However, he’s struggled over his past nine games, with just one goal and a minus-three rating.
Vincent Desharnais will join Brännström as a scratch tonight as Derek Forbort makes his return after missing 17 games with a lower-body injury suffered in practice. He will play alongside Mark Friedman, who’s appearing in his second consecutive game, in lieu of Brännström.
Friedman was paired with Desharnais against the Blues. The duo played 8:57 minutes of 5v5 ice time together and were not on the ice for a goal. However, the Canucks were outshot 0-4 when they were on the ice, per Natural Stat Trick. Friedman logged 14:49 minutes of ice time, registering one shot on goal and four hits with two blocked shots.
The Swedish defenceman will watch tonight’s game from upstairs and will have an opportunity to make his return to the lineup on Saturday when the Canucks welcome the Boston Bruins to Rogers Arena.
