With uncertainty hanging over the hockey club, the Canucks took to the ice for a full morning skate at 10:30 am on Friday. It was business as usual – or as usual as possible – with time ticking down to the noon trade deadline.

All of the team’s pending UFAs – Brock Boeser, Pius Suter & Derek Forbort – were active participants and skated as if they would be playing tonight. In fact, Boeser and Suter skated on a line together with Jake DeBrusk. 

With Carson Soucy shipped to the New York Rangers on Thursday, Victor Mancini will draw in and make his home ice debut for the Canucks. He was paired with Derek Forbort at this morning’s skate. 

Although he won’t play tonight, Quinn Hughes did skate with a skills coach for about 20 minutes prior to the full group this morning. Thatcher Demko has been skating all week but did not hit the ice this morning. Tomorrow will be one month since Demko last appeared for the Canucks in a February 8th game against Toronto.

The Canucks are coming off a 3-2 win over Anaheim on Wednesday. Jake DeBrusk, Teddy Blueger and Carson Soucy scored the Vancouver goals. Kevin Lankinen stopped 14 shots as the Canucks outshot the Ducks 36-16 on the night. Lankinen will make his third straight start in goal tonight.

At home, the Canucks have won three straight and are 4-0-1 in their last five games allowing just seven goals in the process.

The opponent

The Wild has been idle since a 4-3 win in Seattle on Tuesday night. That was the team’s second straight victory. Minnesota won despite being outshot 36-20 on the night and 11-1 in the third period. Filip Gustavsson made 33 saves, including a second period penalty shot stop on Eeli Tolvanen.

Matt Boldy picked up an assist to move into the team lead in scoring with 53 points on the season. Despite missing all but three games since Christmas, Kirill Kaprizov continues to lead the Wild with 23 goals, while Boldy and Marco Rossi both have 21. Kaprizov has been limited to just 37 games this season. Along with Kaprizov, centre Joel Eriksson-Ek and defenceman Jonas Brodin are also out with lower body injuries.

Last night, Minnesota acquired 6’5” right winger Justin Brazeau from Boston. Last weekend, the club reacquired Gustav Nyquist from Nashville. The veteran forward has played two games for Minnesota and is still looking for his first point since the deal. This is his second stint with the Wild after also playing for them late in the 2022-23 season.

The Wild has the most road wins in the NHL this season (22-9-3). However, it’s the only team currently in a divisional playoff spot with a negative goal differential. While Minnesota defends well, it has struggled mightily on the penalty kill, sitting 31st in the league at 70.3%.

Minnesota beat Vancouver 3-2 OT at Xcel Energy Center in early December. The Wild will be back at Rogers Arena again on Saturday, April 12th. 

Tonight’s referees: Peter MacDougall & Cody Beach

Tonight’s broadcasters: John Shorthouse & Dave Tomlinson

Make sure to join the Rink Wide Vancouver postgame live stream immediately following tonight’s game. Rink Wide will provide a full breakdown and comprehensive coverage of the Canucks game. When the final buzzer sounds, be sure to log onto Rink Wide and join the YouTube live chat to discuss the game with other Canucks fans. Subscribe to the Rink Wide YouTube channel and never miss an episode.