Thatcher Demko Ruled Out for Game 2 with Vancouver Canucks, Future Participation in Series in Doubt

Tuesday, April 23rd, 2024

Vancouver Canucks' goaltender Thatcher Demko will be absent from Game 2 against the Nashville Predators due to a new injury that is not related to any previous issues.

Head coach Rick Tocchet described Demko's recovery timeline as being on a "day to day" basis.

This season, Demko has shown impressive performance, securing a record of 35 wins, 14 losses, and 2 overtime losses, alongside a rate of 0.39 goals saved above expected per game, positioning him as a strong candidate for the Vezina Trophy.

During the first game, Demko made 22 saves, with 11 of those coming in the last period of the game.

The role of starting goaltender for Vancouver will now be assumed by Casey DeSmith. DeSmith enters with a record of 12 wins, 9 losses, and 6 overtime losses, holding an save percentage of .895.

Tocchet expressed his expectations for DeSmith, stating the team anticipates him to perform in line with his capabilities.

DeSmith's previous playoff experience was in 2022 when he made an impressive 48 saves in the first game against the New York Rangers. Unfortunately, an injury cut his postseason short.

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