Canucks’ Bo Horvat doubtful for Monday’s game against Dallas

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Bo Horvat’s status is in doubt after taking a slapshot to the lower right leg on Thursday night

Publishing date:

Apr 15, 2022 • 26 minutes ago • 2 minute read • Join the conversation

Michael Carcone of the Arizona Coyotes looks on as Bo Horvat of the Vancouver Canucks winces while skating to the bench after getting hit in the ankle with the puck during their NHL game at Rogers Arena Thursday. Vancouver won 7-1.
Michael Carcone of the Arizona Coyotes looks on as Bo Horvat of the Vancouver Canucks winces while skating to the bench after getting hit in the ankle with the puck during their NHL game at Rogers Arena Thursday. Vancouver won 7-1. Photo by Jeff Vinnick /PNG

The Vancouver Canucks seem to be bracing themselves for life without Bo Horvat.

The captain took a shot off the inside of his lower right leg on Thursday night against the Arizona Coyotes. The powerful shot from Coyotes defenseman Anton Stralman caught Horvat a few inches above his ankle, roughly where the hard plastic shell of his shin pad ends, drawing concern he took the force of the shot on his tibia.

Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau tried to cast an upbeat tone on Horvat’s injury on Thursday night, but by Friday morning, his mood had changed.

“I don’t think he’ll be available Monday,” the veteran coach told reporters Friday after practice at Rogers Arena. “I think Bo is doubtful, would be the best way to put it.”

A source said that Horvat is using a walking boot and a knee scooter for the time being.

The Canucks host the Dallas Stars on Monday at Rogers Arena and then the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday. Those are the first two games in a stretch of seven games in 12 days to wrap up the regular season.

Rogers Arena is equipped with an X-ray machine — that’s an NHL requirement — so the team would have been able to get preliminary scans of his leg. Sometimes swelling can obstruct an X-ray image and so the team then proceeds with an MRI.

Boudreau didn’t reply when asked what the initial X-ray showed, he simply shrugged.

Boudreau did say that he would be meeting with Jon Sanderson, the Canucks’ director of medical services and head athletic therapist, later in the day.

With just two weeks left in the season, time is short for Horvat to come back, even if the injury is a bruise and not a fracture.

Horvat is the Canucks’ leading goal scorer this season with 31 goals in 70 games. He’s also added 21 assists.

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