The words that no one every wants to hear: flu outbreak, and that's exactly what the Canucks are dealing with right now as several players have become affected. As if the Vancouver Canucks needed any more challenges. <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/vancouver-canucks/the-worst-is-confirmed-for-elias-pettersson-and-the-canucks-in-heated-playoff-chase' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Despite missing key</a> forwards Elias Pettersson, Filip Chytil, and Nils Hoglander, the Canucks have battled with heart and urgency over the past two weeks. Captain Quinn Hughes has been a warrior, playing through injuries, while Thatcher Demko made his return to the lineup this week, even though he admitted he's not fully healthy. Now, another obstacle has hit the team. Spring is sprung, or so it would appear, but a flu bug is reportedly making the rounds through the Canucks' dressing room. <h3>Max Sasson was called up earlier today on emergency basis</h3> In response, the team called up Max Sasson from <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/vancouver-canucks/vancouver-canucks-make-emergency-roster-move-ahead-of-tonight-game' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Abbotsford this morning on an emergency basis</a>. Sportsnet's Dan Murphy says the call-up was due to illness as it's possible other players may miss some upcoming games. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/Canucks/status/1905628473604935888'> </a></blockquote></div> It's unknown at this time if and when Sasson might make it into the lineup for tonight's do-or-die game in Columbus. Meanwhile, Kevin Lankinen will start in goal, per Murphy's report, after Demko played the last two games. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/sportsnetmurph/status/1905654508086042873'> </a></blockquote></div> Lankinen's recent absence remains somewhat of a mystery, as he didn't even dress as a spare for Vancouver's last two games against the Islanders and Devils. It is possible he was dealing with the flu. We almost pulled him, he wasn't feeling great, Rick Tocchet said of the Finnish netminder after Saturday's loss against the New York Rangers. The Canucks are sadly <a href='https://www.nhl.com/standings/2025-03-28/wildcard' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>starting to pull further and further away from a playoff spot</a> despite their solid play as of late. On March 11, Vancouver was one point ahead of St. Louis at 69. Even with going 5-2-1 in the past eight, they now trail the Blues by five points. Their hopes are disappearing rapidly, and this flu bug certainly won't help the situation in the slightest.