Overview
- The Canucks held Thatcher Demko out of the weekend back-to-back for a minor issue framed as maintenance, with Kevin Lankinen starting both games.
- Head coach Adam Foote said the plan is for Demko to take maintenance days as needed as part of a season-long strategy to preserve his availability.
- Vancouver executed an emergency recall of Jiri Patera from AHL Abbotsford to ensure depth while Demko sat out.
- Insiders Elliotte Friedman and Rick Dhaliwal characterized the situation as soreness rather than a serious injury, noting Demko skated Saturday and Sunday away from the team.
- Demko has rebounded early this season with a .912 save percentage in nine starts after limited action last year.