The Vancouver Canucks made star defenseman Quinn Hughes a late scratch for Sunday’s game against the visiting Detroit Red Wings.
Hughes participated in warmups but was unable to play. The Canucks have not revealed the nature of his injury.
Hughes apparently suffered the injury in Vancouver’s previous game Friday at the Dallas Stars. He left the bench and missed about six minutes of the third period before returning and playing three shifts down the stretch.
The 25-year-old leads Vancouver in assists (45) and points (59) in 47 games this season. No other Canuck still on the team is closer than Conor Garland’s 34 points. Hughes also leads all NHL defensemen in both categories.
Hughes is on track to break last season’s career high of 17 goals; he had scored 14 entering February.