Canucks’ Conor Garland returns to lineup, Evander Kane out vs. Mammoth

One of the Vancouver Canucks‘ key forwards is set to make his return to the lineup after a two-game absence.

Winger Conor Garland will be back in the lineup Friday against the Utah Mammoth after missing two games with an upper-body injury, the team announced before puck drop (Sportsnet Pacific, 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET).

In a corresponding move, fellow winger Evander Kane will be out with an arm injury suffered Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche.

Garland has been out since Nov. 28 and has been practising with the team in a non-contact jersey.

It’s unclear when the 29-year-old suffered the injury. He played 24:28 in last Friday’s loss to the San Jose Sharks, registering an assist.

In 21 games this season, Garland has six goals and 15 points.

Kane, meanwhile, was cut by a skate against the Avs and played only 13:29 in the 3-1 loss.

The 34-year-old Vancouver native has five goals and nine assists in 27 games while averaging 17:40 of ice time per night.

He was traded to the Canucks from the Edmonton Oilers at the end of the 2024-25 season.

The Canucks are currently 10-14-3 and sit last in the Pacific Division.