The Vancouver Canucks will be without their captain and star player for a second straight game.
Head coach Rick Tocchet told reporters ahead of Tuesday's matchup against the Colorado Avalanche that defenceman Quinn Hughes will not be in the lineup.
Hughes, dealing with an undisclosed injury, was seen skating before the Canucks' practice on Tuesday morning but left the ice before his teammates joined.
He was sidelined for Sunday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
The 25-year-old is the reigning Norris Trophy winner as the league's top defenceman and leads the league in scoring by blueliners with 14 goals and 45 assists across 47 games this season.
Hughes is Vancouver's leading scorer and has at least one point in each of his last eight games, with five goals and seven assists across the stretch.
The injury also throws into question Hughes' participation in this month's 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
He's been named to the U.S. roster alongside his brother, New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes, but could be held out if the ailment persists.
Meanwhile, Tocchet confirmed Thatcher Demko will start in goal against Colorado, while defenceman Carson Soucy, a healthy scratch against Detroit, could return to the lineup.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported earlier Tuesday that the Canucks have made Soucy available for trade, as he's being "squeezed" out of the lineup by their new acquisitions on defence.
"I think they've let people know he'd be available," said Friedman. "They're just remodelling their D right now."
Catch the Canucks and Avalanche facing off starting at 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET on Sportsnet Pacific and Sportsnet+
— With files from The Canadian Press.
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