Canucks’ Demko Exits Game Against Jets Amid Health Precautions
Hey everyone, here’s the latest update from the Vancouver Canucks. On Tuesday night, goaltender Thatcher Demko had to leave the game against the Winnipeg Jets, and he didn’t return for the second period. Demko, who’s 29 years old and hails from San Diego, was seen stretching his lower body during a stoppage in the first period, but he still played the full opening frame. In that period, he faced eight shots and allowed three goals before heading off the ice.
The Canucks later confirmed on social media that Demko would not return for the remainder of the game. Kevin Lankinen stepped in to take over in net starting the second period. This isn’t entirely unexpected, as Demko hadn’t dressed for the team’s previous three games. Vancouver’s head coach, Adam Foote, mentioned that the goalie had been taking care of himself, especially in a season that’s compressed due to the Winter Olympic break.
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Looking at his season stats, Demko had appeared in nine games prior to this matchup. Over those games, he posted a 2.57 goals-against average with a .912 save percentage and a 5-4-0 record. It’s worth noting that last season he played just 23 games after suffering a knee injury in Game 1 of Vancouver’s first-round playoff series against the Predators in 2023-24, so managing his workload seems to be a priority for both him and the team this year.
It wasn’t just Demko making headlines. Canucks captain Quinn Hughes also briefly left the game due to an upper-body injury. Hughes got tangled with Jets forward Mark Scheifele while racing for the puck, and he immediately grabbed his shoulder before heading to the locker room. Fortunately, Hughes returned to the game and contributed with two assists, adding to his season total of one goal and nine assists in 13 games before Tuesday.
For Vancouver, it was a tough night as the Jets managed to secure the win, but the bigger takeaway is that the team is carefully managing the health and fitness of key players like Demko and Hughes. With a challenging season schedule and the importance of keeping top talent on the ice, these precautions could play a crucial role in Vancouver’s performance down the stretch.
So, while fans may have been concerned seeing Demko leave the game early, it’s clear that the team is focused on long-term health and maintaining the goalie’s form for the bigger challenges ahead. The Canucks will surely hope Demko bounces back quickly and that Hughes stays fully fit for the upcoming matchups.
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