Another piece of sad news for Canucks as Key player is ruled out due to illness.

Vancouver Canucks star centre Elias Pettersson was absent from practice on Tuesday due to an apparent illness as his team prepares for Game 1 of their second round series against the visiting Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old Swede struggled during Vancouver’s first round series win over the Nashville Predators, recording just three assists in six games.

Pettersson scored 34 goals and added 55 assists over 82 games in 2023-24, his sixth season in Vancouver after being selected fifth overall by the Canucks in 2017. He has 170 goals and 242 assists over 407 career games in the NHL.

Before this season, Pettersson’s only postseason experience came during the COVID-19 year in 2020, the last time the Canucks made the playoffs. He scored seven goals and 11 assists over 17 games as the Canucks advanced to the second round inside the bubble that year.

Pettersson signed an eight-year, $92.8 million contract, featuring an average annual value of $11.6 million, in March and that deal will begin next season.

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Canucks viewing parties: Here’s where to watch the Canucks vs. Oilers Round 2 playoffs

Fan frenzy is ramping up as the Vancouver Canucks head into Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers starting Wednesday.

Vancouver is still on the fence about hosting a playoff viewing party, but several other municipalities are going ahead with their own events.

If you don’t have cable or want to watch the playoff action with other like-minded fans, here’s a list of places hosting free viewing parties in Metro Vancouver (plus a couple others still mulling it over).

Delta

More than 2,000 people show up at this family-friendly outdoor watch party at the Social Heart plaza in North Delta, which is held for every Canucks playoff game this spring.

When Delta started airing games at the plaza during Round 1, it was the only Metro Vancouver municipality to do so, at about $10,000 a pop.

Council recognized there was strong appetite for people to gather and cheer on the Canucks given the nine-year playoff drought.

It also launched the event as an alternative to the raucous, but unsanctioned, party that erupts at Scott Road and 72nd Avenue after a win.

Should the Canucks advance to the third round, it could hold a second watch party, this time in South Delta.

Only lawn chairs and blankets are allowed at the Social Heart plaza viewing party. Parking is available at North Delta Recreation Centre and Richardson elementary.

Where: 11405-11427 84 Ave., Delta
Cost: Free