With Zeev Buium (upper body) on Injured Reserve, Vancouver has recalled Mancini from Abbotsford (AHL). The 23-year-old Mancini has zero points and is averaging 13:12 time-on-ice through nine games with Vancouver this season.
With Brock Boeser (upper body) on Injured Reserve, Vancouver has recalled Lekkerimaki from Abbotsford (AHL). The 21-year-old Lekkerimaki had two points (1G / 1A) in eight games with Vancouver earlier this season.
Boeser will miss at least a week before he is eligible to be activated from Injured Reserve. The 28-year-old Boeser has three points (2G / 1A) in his last three games, but has had a disappointing season, with 25 points (12G / 13A) through 50 games.
Buium exited Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third period after taking a puck to the face, and will be sidelined for at least a week after being placed on Injured Reserve. The 20-year-old defenseman has six points (2G / 4A) in 20 games with the Canucks this season.
Quillan will play for the first time since December 30th, suiting up in his fourth game of the season. Quillan will replace Calle Jarnkork and is expected to skate on the fourth-line and play a minimal role, like he has in the first three games of the season, where he's averaged just 8:06 TOI/gm.
Sasson has been a regular in the lineup this season, already playing a career-high 47 games, but he will be a healthy scratch on Friday against the New Jersey Devils. He has 12 points (10G / 2A) and is averaging 11:25 time-on-ice this season.
Lankinen was solid in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Washington Capitals, saving 29 of 32 shots (.906 SV%), to help the Canucks snap a miserable nine-game losing streak (0-9-2). Despite the team's recent struggles, Lankinen hasn't been a detriment between the pipes, posting a serviceable 3.08 GAA and .902 SV% in his last nine appearances (3-4-1). The Canucks enter Friday's contest as +129 home underdogs against a New Jersey Devils team that has won four of their last five games (4-1-0).
Chytil will return to Vancouver's lineup for the first time since October 19th due to a concussion and is expected to lineup on the Canucks 2nd line with Brock Boeser and Drew O'Connor. The 26-year-old started the season out hot with three goals and 15 SOG in six games prior to his injury. He will look to stay healthy after only playing 21 games with Vancouver across the last season and a half since being acquired from New York last season.
Chytil has not played since mid-October, limited to only six games this season, but could return to the lineup on Friday against the New Jersey Devils. The 26-year-old Czech forward had three goals in six games before his injury, but has unfortunately had trouble staying healthy over the past few seasons.
Bains has played a career-high 28 games with Vancouver this season, but will report to the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL). The 25-year-old has had trouble staying in the lineup for Vancouver and has five points (1G / 4A) in 28 games.
The Canucks are desperate to snap a free-falling 11-game losing streak (0-9-2) and will continue to rely on Lankien to help them get back into the win column. The 30-year-old Lankinen has a 3.23 GAA and .890 SV% during the team's winless skid, with a 0-5-1 record. The Canucks enter the action on Wednesday as +145 home underdogs against a Washington Capitals team that has been outscored 13-6 during a three-game losing streak (0-3-0).
James Reimer was serviceable in his Ottawa debut on Sunday, evidently giving the team enough trust in him to send Merilainen down to Belleville (AHL). The 23-year-old Merilainen has had a terrible season in Ottawa, which has been even worse since Linus Ullmark (personal) has been away from the team, posting a dreadful 3.27 GAA and .843 SV% in 10 games (4-5-1).
Mancini will take a seat on Monday as Elias Nils Pettersson draws back into the lineup. Mancini has played in nine games this season and is yet to register a point.
Pettersson will play for the first time since January 10th after serving as a healthy scratch in each of the last four games. Victor Mancini will sit in his place.
The Canucks are in last place, amid a miserably 10-game losing streak (0-8-2), and will hope for a strong performance from Lankinen to get them back into the win column. Despite the recent skid, Lankinen has been serviceable between the pipes, but the team has given him little to no scoring support on most nights. He has a 3.03 GAA and .905 SV% in his last seven games (2-4-1). The Canucks enter Monday's contest as +125 home underdogs against the New York Islanders, who have lost three of their last five games (2-2-1).