Nov 6, 2014; San Jose, CA, USA; Vancouver Canucks right wing Radim Vrbata (17) high fives teammates after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the first period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

After a four game road strip the Vancouver Canucks are back at the Rogers Arena tonight to take on the Ottawa Senators, but if their gameday skate is any indication they will be returning to home ice short a few players as the ‘Nucks were missing four of their regulars at Tuesday morning’s skating session to prepare to take on Eastern Conference opponents in the Sens.

Radim Vrbata, Derek Dorsett, Zack Kassian and Luca Sbisa (plus usual healthy scratch Tom Sestito) were all not skating Tuesday morning, indicating that their injury issues from the road trip are still present as they return from California back to Vancouver.

None of the Canuck injured players are at practice this morning. Line combinations are: 22-33-36; 20-13-14; 27-15-46; 39-53-7. #Canucks — Elliott Pap (@ElliottPap) November 11, 2014

Morning skate underway. Vrbata, Sbisa, Dorsett, Kassian, and Sestito are not on the ice for #Canucks. — Vancouver Canucks (@VanCanucks) November 11, 2014

The Canucks looked good on Sunday on the tail end of a back to back in Southern California without the likes of Vrbata, Kassian and company so don’t expect the injuries to do too much damage to their chances of continuing their momentum in a return to home ice against the Senators. However with Vrbata playing great hockey with the Sedin line early this season the Canucks will be hoping that he along with the rest of the Vancouver regulars can get back on the ice soon. In the meantime, youngsters Linden Vey and Bo Horvat as well as Jannik Hansen (bumped up to play with the Sedin line by Desjardins) will have to step up to make the most of their ice time in the absences of the handful of players dealing with what are reported to be minor injuries.