Photo by Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
Andrei Kuzmenko Set To Return To Canucks Lineup After Being Healthy Scratch
According to head coach Rick Tocchet, after sitting in the press box for two straight games, Andrei Kuzmenko will be back in the lineup versus the Anaheim Ducks. Based on line combinations at practice, it looks as though the Russian winger will return to his usual spot beside Elias Pettersson and Ilya Mikheyev. While Phillip Di Giuseppe was the odd man out during practice, Tocchet would not confirm which player Kuzmenko would be replacing.
Kuzmenko being scratched could be related to multiple factors. There are questions surrounding his defensive game, and he hasn't been able to provide the same offensive production he had last season, with just three goals in 19 games. He also saw his ice time slowly diminish game by game before being scratched against the Seattle Kraken on Friday night. Tocchet hopes that sitting these past two games will help Kuzmenko reset and find his form over the next few games.
Vancouver returns to action on Tuesday when they face division rivals, the Anaheim Ducks. After a strong start to the season, the Ducks have faltered of late, entering their game against the Canucks on a six-game losing streak. This is a great opportunity for Kuzmenko and the entire team to get back on track after they suffered a lacklustre 4-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night.
