In a disheartening turn of events for the Vancouver Canucks, they will have to navigate the remainder of their crucial road trip without two of their standout forwards, Elias Pettersson and Nils Höglander, both sidelined with injuries. The news comes as the team gears up for an upcoming game against the New Jersey Devils.

On a brighter note, the Canucks have received a much-needed boost with the activation of goalie Thatcher Demko from Injured Reserve. After a challenging six-week recovery from a groin injury, Demko is set to reclaim his spot in the net, promising to fortify the Canucks' defense during this tumultuous stretch.

“Unfortunately, Pettersson and Höglander will be heading home for evaluations, and they won’t be with us for the remainder of the trip,” head coach Rick Tocchet disclosed. The Canucks now face a daunting challenge, having four consecutive away games before they can finally return home to Rogers Arena for a matchup against the Seattle Kraken on April 2.

Both players encountered trouble in the latter stages of Saturday's game versus the New York Rangers. Pettersson’s injury appeared to flare up during a faceoff, suggesting he may have reinjured himself. Meanwhile, Höglander’s situation seems to stem from an awkward fall following a hit from Rangers defenseman Will Borgen, which forced him to miss a significant portion of the game.

The timing couldn’t be harsher for the Canucks, especially as they find themselves in a tight race for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, trailing five points behind the last playoff position. The absence of Pettersson and Höglander, both of whom have been on a scoring streak, will be keenly felt. Just before the game against the Rangers, Pettersson had amassed an impressive 10 points in his last eight games, riding a six-game scoring streak. Höglander was also on a roll, contributing seven points in his last seven outings.

To compensate for Pettersson's absence, the Canucks have called up Aatu Räty from the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks under emergency conditions to fill in at center. Meanwhile, the team will rely on Linus Karlsson to step up on the wing, highlighting the pressure on the remaining roster to perform amid these setbacks.

As the Canucks continue their road trip, all eyes will be on the team to see how they adapt without their key contributors, especially as they fight to keep their playoff hopes alive. Stay tuned as the pressure mounts and the team must rise to the occasion!