Vancouver Canucks forward Chris Higgins will miss Tuesday's game against the Colorado Avalanche because of a staph infection in his foot.
"(Higgins) came in (Monday) morning. His foot was all swollen up," coach Alain Vigneault said. "According to what he's telling us, he had the same thing happen to him last year in Florida. Initially there, I think he missed six or seven games. They thought it was a skate bite, and then they thought it was a spider bite and then they finally figured out that it was a staph infection."
Vigneault said Higgins was due to visit an infection specialist Monday. The Canucks have recalled Viktor Oreskovich from Chicago of the AHL to take Higgins' spot in the lineup.
"Hopefully, with their experience in the past, they can get this under control real quick," Vigneault said. "What I saw with his foot (Monday), I don't think he's going to play (Tuesday). But, hopefully, (his absence) won't be long."
The 28-year-old Higgins, a native of Smithtown, N.Y., had a goal and two assists in Sunday's 5-1 victory over the Calgary Flames to extend his points streak to four games.
With 17 points, he is on his way to surpassing the 23 he produced last season with Florida and the Canucks, who acquired him at the trade deadline to help with their run to the Stanley Cup finals.
