According to a recent update, the Vancouver Canucks will continue to be without their primary goaltender for the first four games of their upcoming second-round playoff series. Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff indicates that Thatcher Demko‘s anticipated return to the Canucks’ net may occur no earlier than Game 5, with Games 6 or 7 being deemed more realistic possibilities.
Demko sustained an undisclosed injury during Game 1 against the Nashville Predators, sidelining him for the remainder of the series. Initially replaced by Casey DeSmith, who subsequently suffered an injury himself, Demko’s absence saw Arturs Silovs step in and lead the Canucks to a series victory in six games.
Sources say #Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko is out through at least Game 4 of this Round 2 series vs. #Oilers.
Demko has been skating and progressing. Big week ahead. Earliest possible return is Game 5 and that is probably pushing it. But Games 6-7 get interesting, if necessary.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) May 7, 2024
While Demko’s recovery was initially categorized as “week-to-week,” he resumed on-ice activities last week. Notably, the San Diego native had previously missed 14 games due to a lower-body injury towards the end of the Canucks’ Pacific Division-winning season. Despite this setback, Demko returned for the team’s penultimate regular-season game, securing a 4-1 victory.
Although the current injury differs from the previous one Demko encountered towards the end of the regular season, the specifics regarding the nature of the injury remain undisclosed.
