San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks logos.

Photo credit: Fubo

The Vancouver Canucks will get a huge boost to their lineup tonight as they return from the National Hockey League’s holiday break to host the San Jose Sharks.

After a very successful road trip, winning four of five games, the Vancouver Canucks return to Rogers Arena for the first time in over two weeks and there’s been plenty of change since their 3-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on December 11th.

Vancouver Canucks get massive boost to lineup against San Jose Sharks on Saturday

As the Vancouver Canucks took to the ice for the morning skate on Saturday, forward Elias Pettersson was among those in attendance and was sporting a full-contact sweater, signalling that he was nearing a return to game action after missing eight games with an upper-body injury.

Pettersson slotted in on the top line, his usual spot, alongside Evander Kane and Kiefer Sherwood, while Marco Rossi centered the second line flanked by Jake DeBrusk and Brock Boeser, according to Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet 650.

David Kampf is set to assume the third line center role now that Elias Pettersson is back and will be with Drew O’Connor & Conor Garland, with the fourth line featuring Liam Ohgren, Max Sasson and Linus Karlsson.

Aatu Raty, who has been in and out of the lineup this season, is set to be a healthy scratch tonight, along with Nils Hoglander and Pierre-Olivier Joseph.

As for the defensive pariings, those will remain the same this evening as Marcus Pettersson remains in Quinn Hughes’ old spot alongside Filip Hronek, Zeev Buium is with Tyler Myers, while Elias Pettersson and Tom Willander make up the third duo.

“Saturday morning skate #Canucks lines

Kane. EP40. Sherwood.
DeBrusk. Rossi. Boeser.
O’Connor. Kämpf. Garland.
Öhgren. Sasson. Karlsson.

MP29. Hronek.
Buium. Myers.
EP25. Willander.

Extras: Joseph, Räty, Höglander, Chytil (non contact)” Batchelor said on X.

Meanwhile, Thatcher Demko is set to be between the pipes tonight for his 16th start of the 2025-26 season and is coming off some impressive performances on the team’s road trip including a shutout against the New York Rangers.

“Thatcher Demko doing the starters drills at #Canucks morning skate. He’s 13-0 lifetime against San Jose.” Jeff Paterson of Rink Wide: Vancouver said.

Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily

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Vancouver Canucks get huge boost to their lineup tonight against the San Jose Sharks

Do you think Elias Pettersson will score in his return to the lineup tonight?