While without another key performer, the Vancouver Canucks hope to have two others along for the ride when they open a six-game trip against the Ottawa Senators, who are mired in their longest slide of the season.
The struggling Canucks will try to right the ship by handing the Senators a fifth straight loss Saturday night.
Vancouver has lost two straight and four of six following a 7-1-1 stretch, and the team announced this week that star J.T. Miller will take a leave of absence for personal reasons. It's reported he likely won't be available through this road stretch.
"We don't know when he'll be back," Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said of Miller, who is second on the team with 16 points.
Vancouver has also been without fellow All-Star Brock Boeser (upper-body injury), who has 11 points in 12 games, for the past six contests. But it's been reported Boeser is with the team for this trip and could be set for a return to the ice.
Also, fellow star Thatcher Demko is expected to join the Canucks on this Eastern road trip. However, it's uncertain when he'll make his season debut following a knee injury suffered in the 2024 playoffs.
"I definitely know that I'll be playing here," said Demko, who set career bests with 35 wins, a 2.45 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage last season.
"I can't give you the timeline yet, but I'll definitely be back. (I'm) just enjoying being where I am today and keep making progress."
In the meantime, veteran Kevin Lankinen has been solid in Vancouver's net with a 2.71 goals-against average in 13 starts. However, he's allowed four goals apiece in each of his last two. Backup Arturs Silovs, who made 29 saves in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers, is 1-3-1 with a 3.91 GAA in six games (five starts) this season.
The Canucks have not suffered three consecutive regulation losses in 2024-25. The club has won four in a row amid a 5-0-1 stretch versus Ottawa.
Quinn Hughes has a team-leading 19 points, and 18 in 17 career games against the Senators. Meanwhile, teammate Elias Pettersson, with five goals and four assists in the last eight games, has recorded 10 goals and 10 assists in 13 games versus Ottawa.
The Senators have struggled to win consistently. They've allowed 17 goals while mired in an 0-3-1 rut after winning two straight. That said, Ottawa battled Vegas hard during Thursday's 3-2 home loss.
"We just need to keep working, keep believing in each other," said the Senators' Drake Batherson, who scored his eighth goal Thursday. "You can't get down. Just come to the rink positive and work hard."
Former Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark has allowed 13 goals during his current 0-2-1 starting stretch for the Senators, but made 29 saves against the Golden Knights. Teammate Anton Forsberg has yielded three goals apiece in losing his last two starts.
Despite Ottawa's middling performance to begin the season, Tim Stutzle has recorded 17 of his team-leading 23 points at home. He has a goal and five assists spanning his last five games versus Vancouver.
