You read that right.
Spencer Martin tested positive for COVID-19 last night and has been added to COVID protocol.
Michael DiPietro will start against the St. Louis Blues tonight as the Canucks use their fourth goalie of the season with Thatcher Demko and Jaroslav Halak both sidelined by the NHL’s COVID protocols until Tuesday.
The current protocols that have put the Canucks in this situation will go the way of the dodo as of February 3rd, but for some reason not a second earlier, meaning the Canucks have to deal with a less-than-ideal situation for the second time in as many games.
Additionally, the club is also still without three top six forwards in the form of Bo Horvat, Conor Garland, and J.T. Miller.
Here’s a handy little goalie depth chart that shows where the Canucks are currently at in the crease heading into tonight’s game:
“I might be the backup tonight,” joked head coach Bruce Boudreau.
In reality, the Canucks are expected to call up EBUG Rylan Toth, the 25-year-old netminder out of the University of British Columbia’s men’s ice hockey program to serve as their backup tonight.
DiPietro has struggled in Abbotsford this season but has shown signs of starting to turn things around.
This will be DiPietro’s first NHL start since he had to make his NHL debut on an emergency basis as a 19-year-old back in the 2018-19 season in a 7-2 loss at the hands of the San Jose Sharks.