Quinn Hughes returns from 4-game absence vs. Flames

The Vancouver Canucks had captain Quinn Hughes back within their ranks for Wednesday's key 4-3 shootout victory against the Calgary Flames.

He recorded one assist in a team-leading 29:48 minutes of ice time in his return.

Hughes missed the previous four games with an undisclosed injury. Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said the star defenseman tweaked something during their 6-3 loss to the Seattle Kraken on March 1.

Vancouver went 2-2-0 in Hughes' absence. He's appeared in just four of the Canucks' 14 games since the beginning of February and missed the 4 Nations Face-Off with an oblique injury.

The 25-year-old was also sidelined for four contests in late December with a hand injury.

Hughes has amassed 14 tallies and 47 assists in 51 games this season, though he's in the midst of a seven-game goal drought dating back to Jan. 25. The reigning Norris Trophy winner still ranks third among all rearguards in points (61) this season despite the missed time.

The Canucks were one point behind the Flames for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference prior to Wednesday's showdown, but Calgary has one game in hand.