The stars will be out for the Canucks-Oilers Game 7 clash on Monday. One notable name looks poised to be absent, however.
Vancouver will be without the services of star winger Brock Boeser in Game 7, according to Vancouver-based hockey journalist Irfaan Gaffar.
Boeser, 27, is one of the Canucks' most productive players, having shown off an impressive scoring streak this season. He's been one of the league's standout postseason players, too, racking up goals and assists as Vancouver races toward what it hopes to be its franchise's first Stanley Cup.
His absence could spell trouble for a Canucks side already swept up in a run of poor health.
Here's what you need to know regarding Boeser's absence, as well as his status going forward.
What happened to Brock Boeser?
Boeser will be held out of Game 7 after sustaining some sort of blood-cotting issue, per reports. There's no timeline for his return to the ice.
It's unclear what part of Boeser's body is experiencing the clot. However, it is not considered to be a life-threatening issue, per Gaffar.
Boeser didn't participate in practice on Sunday, with head coach Rick Tocchet telling reporters that he needed "a maintenance day." He admitted that he didn't have a timetable for Boeser's return on Monday.
"I don't want to get into Brock's injury right now," Tocchet said Monday. "I just yesterday found out he won't be available. Basically, that's it. He's being evaluated, he's probably going to be evaluated again, so I don't have a timeframe."
The American forward, a former first-round pick, enjoyed the best season of his young career in 2023-24, reaching the 40-goal plateau and setting a career high in points totaled (73).
He's followed up that regular season campaign with a prolific playoff showing. Through Game 6 — the final game Boeser took part in this series — he has seven goals and 12 points. Both of those sums lead the Canucks.
Boeser shares first-line responsibilities with J.T. Miller and Pius Suter. That line typically matches up against Edmonton's killer top line of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Connor McDavid, and Zach Hyman. Boeser also saw time on Vancouver's first power play unit.
"It’s always tough to hear,” Canucks defenseman Tyler Myers said, per NHL.com. “He's obviously bummed, but he'll be fine and guys just have to step up. It's part of its part of playoffs. You're going to lose guys at different times for different reasons, and it's an opportunity. We have to look at it like an opportunity for other guys to step up and step into a role and be excited for it.
Boeser isn't the first marquee Canuck to miss out on the action. Also slated to miss Monday's game is goaltender Thatcher Demko. Vancouver's Vezina Trophy finalist hasn't seen the ice since being pulled from Game 1 of the Canucks' first-round series with the Predators with an undisclosed injury.
The winner of Monday's game will take on Dallas in the Western Conference Finals with a spot in the Stanley Cup Finals on the line. The puck drop for Game 7 is scheduled to take place at or around 9 p.m. ET.