Canucks' Kassian not with club on current road trip
The Vancouver Canucks are set to kick off a season-long seven-game road trip on Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and they'll at least start the trip without the services of third-line power forward Zack Kassian:
Zack Kassian did not travel with the #canucks to Columbus. Was slashed on the right arm/hand in 3rd per vs NJ. Update from Willie D later.
— Dan Murphy (@sportsnetmurph) November 27, 2014
Kassian, 23, didn't play in the final half of the third period of Vancouver's 2-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.
The burly depth forward has appeared in 17 games with the Canucks this season and has contributed two goals and five total points. Though his plus-minus rating is in the red, it doesn't reflect the improvement in his overall game, as he's been easily Vancouver's best bottom-six forward when it comes to driving play.
For now, Vancouver hasn't called up a forward to replace Kassian, although they most likely will if he's going to miss the entirety of the club's road trip. Rookie forward Linden Vey, a healthy scratch Tuesday, is likely to return to the Canucks' lineup, and to his usual spot on Vancouver's first power-play unit, in Kassian's absence.