Vancouver forward Brock Boeser will return to the ice after an 11-game absence due to a groin injury when the Canucks host the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night.
FILE PHOTO: Nov 2, 2018; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser (6) scores against Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) during the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Boeser reinjured the groin on Nov. 2 and has played in just 13 of 26 games this season. He initially suffered the injury two weeks earlier, which caused him to miss games on Oct. 24 and 25.
“This is a lot different than the last time. This is the best I’ve felt in a while,” Boeser told reporters after Tuesday’s morning skate. “I feel I’m going to be able to move a lot better than before.”
Boeser practiced on Monday and waited to see how his body felt Tuesday before declaring he was ready to return.
The 21-year-old said he recently saw a specialist and hopes the groin issues won’t be a long-term problem.
“To figure out what was wrong, I think that was one of my main issues,” Boeser said. “I wanted to know what was wrong and make sure it’s not something serious so I would have to miss a lot of time. We did that, and the medical staff took all the right steps so we would know what the injury was and fix all the problems that were causing it.”
Boeser has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) this season. The Canucks struggled without him in going 2-7-2 during his latest absence.
“He is a skilled guy, good shot,” rookie center Elias Pettersson told reporters. “We all know how good a goal scorer he is, so it’s always nice to play with a guy who is good at hockey and creates chances for both himself and me.”
Boeser had 29 goals and 26 assists (55 points) in 62 games last season.
—Field Level Media