Thatcher Demko recalled by Vancouver

Anders Nilsson is about to become a dad.

According to Rick Dhaliwal of Sportsnet 650, the tandem starter’s wife is due to deliver today – so he’s out of commission for the moment, awaiting his family’s newest addition.

In his place? It’s Thatcher Demko time.

It was announced on Saturday, via official press release, that Demko has been recalled by the Canucks from the AHL’s Utica Comets. He’ll join the team as they host the Pittsburgh Penguins at home in Vancouver, hoping to stop a disappointing two game losing skid.

So far this season, Demko has played in seven games for the Comets – and he’s been absolutely dominant in the process. Facing 212 shots in total (averaging out to about 30 per game), he’s allowed just 13 goals, going 4-2-1 with one shutout and a .939 save percentage in all situations.

It seems unlikely that he’ll make his NHL debut tonight, since Jacob Markstrom allowed just one goal in his last game en route to a 2-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils and Cory Schneider.

Markstrom has been running incredibly hot and cold through October, though, boasting a concerning two Really Bad Starts by Rob Vollman’s metric to go with five Quality Starts in nine total games. If he falters again on Saturday night, expect Demko to potentially make his NHL debut.

Pittsburgh and Vancouver will face off at 7:00 PM PST in Vancouver.