Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser received a bit of good news on Monday. After Boeser left Sunday night's game against the Calgary Flames after blocking a shot, the Canucks announced that the rookie did not suffer a foot fracture.
It was the news the Canucks needed to hear as injuries seemed to have plagued members of the team.
On Dec. 7, forward Bo Horvat was diagnosed with a foot fracture. Sven Baertschi suffered a broken jaw last week while Christopher Tanev joined those that were sidelined as his groin strain will keep the defenceman sidelined for at least two weeks. Now the injury bug made its most significant mark.
Boeser went down after blocking the shot of Flames defenceman Mark Giordano in the early moments of the second period. Vancouver updated Boeser's status shortly after he went to the team's dressing room.
Update: @BBoeser16 suffered a foot injury and will not return tonight.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 18, 2017
The loss of Boeser is a massive blow to the Canucks offence. Boeser is in the midst of an impressive rookie campaign where he leads the Canucks, and all rookies, with 17 goals and 30 points.
Four forwards from Vancouver's opening night lineup currently occupy a position on the team's injury report. If the 20-year-old Boeser was to miss any time, the Canucks road to a playoff position remains an immensely difficult task. They trail the San Jose Sharks, who hold the Pacific Division's third playoff spot, by four points. It is the same gap that they trail the Dallas Stars in the conference standings.
Canucks head coach Travis Green recognized what the loss of Boeser means for Vancouver following the team's 6-1 loss to the Flames.
"It's another challenge, that's for sure," Green told reporters.