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Canucks lose Hansen for 4-6 weeks with knee injury

Vancouver Canucks v Carolina Hurricanes

RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 16: Jannick Hansen #36 of the Vancouver Canucks carries a puck during their NHL game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena on January 16, 2015 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)

NHLI via Getty Images

Jannik Hansen will be sidelined 4-6 weeks with a knee injury that was suffered on a controversial play Thursday against Winnipeg.

It was in the second period when the Vancouver winger was kneed by Jets forward Mathieu Perreault. The Canucks felt the play deserved an additional look from the league, but Perreault escaped with a two-minute minor for kneeing.

Hansen was just six games into his return from a previous injury that had cost him 16 games. His new injury is just the latest blow for the Canucks, who have also been without their two top defensemen, Chris Tanev and Alex Edler, for extended periods this season.

Tanev is back, but Edler is still recovering from a broken finger. There is no timetable for his return, though he has been practicing with teammates.

It will be interesting to see how Hansen’s injury may affect the roster. Anton Rodin has been given the first chance to fill in. But if Rodin can’t produce, the Canucks could potentially look at recalling Jake Virtanen from the AHL.

Vancouver entered the Christmas break on a down note, getting badly outplayed in Calgary while losing 4-1 to the Flames on Friday. The Canucks were outshot, 37-14, and didn’t look anything like a team that might challenge for a playoff spot in the second half of the season.

The Canucks host the Kings Wednesday. Vancouver is currently seven points back of Calgary for the second wild-card spot in the West.

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