Scenes from morning skate: Canucks looking to snap winless skid and spoil Quinn Hughes’ homecoming

The Vancouver Canucks host the Minnesota Wild at Rogers Arena as they aim to halt an eight-game winless slide. Former Canucks captain Quinn Hughes returns to Vancouver for the first time with Minnesota, sitting on 499 career points after logging an assist in a 5-1 victory against the Seattle Kraken. Vancouver manager Manny Malhotra expects a much stronger effort following a 5-2 defeat to the Detroit Red Wings.

Vancouver is expected to make several lineup adjustments, with Leevi Meriläinen projected to start in goal and Guillaume Brisebois entering the defense. Liam Öhgren is likely to return to the forward group, while Paul Cotter could be scratched. The Wild will turn to backup goaltender Calvin Pickard, giving starter Jesper Wallstedt the night off on the second half of a back-to-back set.