Canucks head Rick Tocchet said Saturday his No. 1 netminder will remain sidelined for Monday's Game 7 vs. the Oilers.
Get the latest from Patrick Johnston straight to your inbox
Author of the article:
Patrick Johnston
Published May 18, 2024 • Last updated 14minutes ago • 2 minute read
![Canucks vs. Oilers: Thatcher Demko ruled out for Game 7 (1) Canucks vs. Oilers: Thatcher Demko ruled out for Game 7 (1)](https://i0.wp.com/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/theprovince/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2147998077.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=288&h=216&sig=SrvwLDq1WUq-XllFI__uQw)
Thatcher Demko may have skated with his teammates ahead of Game 6 on Saturday, but he won’t be playing in Game 7 Monday.
Advertisem*nt 2
Story continues below
This advertisem*nt has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.
- Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.
- The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.
- Support local journalism.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.
- Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.
- The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.
- Support local journalism.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account.
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
- Enjoy additional articles per month.
- Get email updates from your favourite authors.
Sign In or Create an Account
or
View more offers
Article content
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Canucks vs. Oilers: Thatcher Demko ruled out for Game 7 Back to video
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser, or
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Following the Vancouver Canucks’ dispiriting 5-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, evening their Pacific Division final series at three games apiece, Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said his team’s No. 1 netminder won’t be an option for the series-deciding game at Rogers Arena.
Article content
“No, Thatcher Demko is not going to play Game 7,” he said.
There had been some hope that Demko might be able to make a return from a suspected knee injury, which he suffered late in the first game of the playoffs against Nashville.
Sources said in the days that followed that concern had initially been that Demko was out for the remainder of the playoffs, but then concern settled into a roughly four-week window, which is where we are now.
It was always likely he wouldn’t be ready to play again until the conference final, which the Canucks will make if they win Game 7 on Monday. It’s expected that Game 1 of the conference final, which will start in Dallas, will be on Thursday.
Advertisem*nt 3
Story continues below
This advertisem*nt has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Given the standard return-to-play progression we’ve seen from Canucks director of goaltending Ian Clark, Demko will need at least a couple of full practices with his teammates before he’s cleared to return. And Tocchet said Friday that Demko needed to have some competitive practices where he would face tipped pucks and screens before he’s ready to play.
He didn’t get that Saturday morning and given that the Canucks have mostly avoided practices on off-days, he likely wouldn’t have had that on Sunday either.
And so the crease remains for Arturs Silovs.
The Canucks’ rookie netminder has performed admirably in the playoffs, doing everything that’s been asked of him and pushing the limits of what one might think he’s capable of.
He’s been ready, night in, night out, and has given his team a chance to win every night.
pjohnston@postmedia.comBookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add VancouverSun.com and TheProvince.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber: For just $14 a month, you can get unlimited access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province.Article content
Comments
You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.
Create an AccountSign in
Join the Conversation
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.
Trending
- Oilers 5, Canucks 1: Missed shots, missed opportunities
- Canucks vs. Oilers: Thatcher Demko ruled out for Game 7
- Canucks vs. Oilers: Demko skates ahead of Game 6 but playing this weekend 'would be a stretch'
- Lionel Messi injury has Vancouver soccer fans holding their breath for May 25
- Canucks vs. Oilers Game Day: Can Vancouver seal the series in Game 6?
Latest National Stories
This Week in Flyers