VANCOUVER — Brandon Sutter will return to the Vancouver Canucks' lineup Tuesday against the Nashville Predators after missing the last 33 games with a sports hernia.
The 26-year-old centre suffered the abdominal injury in November before undergoing surgery in early December.
Sutter practised with the team on the Canucks' recent road trip and looks set to replace the injured Henrik Sedin on the top line between Daniel Sedin and Jannik Hansen against Nashville.
Vancouver acquired Sutter in a trade with Pittsburgh in June before signing him to a five-year deal worth US$21.875 million in August.
Sutter, who has four goals and four assists in 16 games this season, should help in the faceoff circle and on the penalty kill, where the Canucks rank 20th.
