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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tucker Poolman‘s absence seems to be growing more serious.

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The Vancouver Canucks recalled defenceman Noah Juulsen from AHL Abbotsford Sunday, a day after Poolman was knocked out of the lineup mid-game with an undisclosed injury.

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The Canucks face the Washington Capitals Monday evening at Capital One Arena.

Poolman, who had skated as Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s defence partner for the first four periods of the season, didn’t join his teammates on the bench when the second period started Saturday in Philadelphia. He was later ruled out of the game, which the Canucks lost 3-2 to the Flyers.

The veteran defenceman was spotted outside the Canucks’ dressing room post-game Saturday, perhaps limping, but whether his injury is a leg problem, a concussion, or a recurrence of the migraines that ended his 2021-22 season prematurely isn’t known.

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Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin was cautious in answering reporter queries on Sunday, simply saying that the team’s medical staff was monitoring Poolman but that he understood the defenceman was feeling better — without disclosing what the precise injury is.

Head coach Bruce Boudreau also was careful in discussing Poolman’s absence after Sunday’s practice in Washington.

“I can’t say what it is but he’s feeling much better today,” he said.

Juulsen suited up five times for the Canucks last season after coming to Vancouver in a pre-season trade from the Florida Panthers.

Kyle Burroughs skated as Ekman-Larsson’s partner in practice on Sunday, while Jack Rathbone joined Riley Stillman. Stillman, a left-shot, moved over to the right side.

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He hasn’t played on the right often as a pro, he said, but he did play there in junior.

At times with the Chicago Blackhawks last season, he did find himself on the right, but it was never a permanent thing.

“My role was a bit of a smorgasbord. Some games I’d get swapped all over, changing partners and roles,” he said.

Juulsen is a right-shot defenceman, so conceivably he could suit up on Monday against the Capitals.

Ekman-Larsson said it was tough to see his teammate struggling with an injury, no matter what it is. The migraines were a real struggle for Poolman, who finally felt himself again in the summer and was upbeat going into training camp and even more upbeat after getting through a series of pre-season games with no issues.

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“I was so happy to see him back and see him get through the game (in Edmonton on Wednesday) and feeling good. Because I know what he’s been dealing with almost all year last year,” Ekman-Larsson said. “In the off-season, he was trying to feel better and get back to playing and living a normal life.

“So that was tough to see he had to leave the game (on Saturday).”

pjohnston@postmedia.com

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