Vancouver Canucks' Willie Mitchell celebrates his goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during second period NHL action in Vancouver, B.C., on Jan. 16.DARRYL DYCK
The Vancouver Canucks will continue to be without two of their top defencemen on Monday.
Head coach Alain Vigneault confirmed that Willie Mitchell, who has missed the last three games, is suffering from a concussion. Mitchell was checked head-first into the boards by Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin on Jan. 16.
"We can safely say that Willie has a concussion," Vigneault said in advance of a home game against the Buffalo Sabres. "He's getting close to symptom-free."
Sami Salo, who tweaked his groin last week, will also miss the contest. Salo is still considered day-to-day, and he could return Wednesday for a home game against the St. Louis Blues.
The Canucks will dress forward Rick Rypien, who has missed the last three games with flu-like symptoms. Rypien will play instead of winger Darcy Hordichuk, who will be a healthy scratch.
Vigneault, meanwhile, signaled that he is done addressing the team's feud with Hockey Night in Canada. The Canucks did not make players or officials available to the CBC's HNIC broadcast Saturday during a 5-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.
The coach was asked twice about the boycott on Monday morning, but directed the queries to Canucks general manager Mike Gillis, who initiated the policy. The Canucks are still upset about a seemingly one-sided segment on Alex Burrows by HNIC host Ron MacLean last weekend. The team wants MacLean to apologize.