Vancouver Canucks will be without starting goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on Monday. Coach Rick Tocchet announced that Demko is ‘day-to-day’ and will be evaluated later today. He will be replaced in net by backup Casey DeSmith.
Demko, 28, stopped 20 shots for the Canucks in a 4-2 Game 1 victory on Sunday. The 28-year-old missed a month after suffering a knee injury on March 9 but returned for Vancouver’s two final games of the regular season and finished the campaign with a 35-14-2 record, a .918 save percentage, and five shutouts.
The Canucks will now turn to DeSmith to try to help them take a 2-0 series lead against the Predators. DeSmith, 31, has appeared in 26 games for the Canucks this season, posting a 12-10-4 record with a .901 save percentage. He has also started three playoff games in his career, all with the Pittsburgh Penguins, going 1-2 with a .921 save percentage.
The Canucks and Predators will face off in Game 2 on Monday night at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. PT.
