Zack Kassian is back up with the Vancouver Canucks and he'll return to the lineup Thursday night.

He was sent down to the AHL for a one-game stint after recovering from a back injury. "It was good to be down there to get in a game and I feel really confident," Kassian said. "My back is 100 percent and I'm really excited to get going again. I spoke to management before I went down and they stressed the things I need to work on, both on and off the ice. On the ice, it was just play the way I was early in the season, moving my feet and playing physical. Off the ice, it was just being professional, especially in a market like this. You have to be a professional." He's slated to start on the third line with Max Lapierre and Nicklas Jensen

The Vancouver Canucks sent Zack Kassian to the AHL for a conditioning stint.

He's recovering from a back injury, so this assignment is legitimately for those reasons - not as a way of shaming him into shape (like many teams do with conditioning stints).

Kassian has missed the Canucks last five games with a back injury. It doesn't sound like he will return tonight, but monitor his status prior to puck-drop to be sure.