How about some good news on Halloween Eve for Vancouver Canucks fans?
Goaltender Thatcher Demko could be nearing a return sometime in mid-late November, according to a report from Rick Dhaliwal of Donnie and Dhali — The Team.
Here’s what Dhaliwal had to say:
“I reported last week there was progress with Demko. Tocchet saying progress with Demko this week. I think he’s two to three weeks away. Let’s play it by ear, and I think that if he can get back in two or three weeks, that would be good.”
Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet told reporters Tuesday that the Canucks’ star netminder had four “really good days” when offering an update on Demko’s health. Demko opened up about his popliteus injury — one he called “rare and unique” — at training camp in September. Demko suffered the injury in the final moments of game one of the Canucks’ first round playoff matchup against the Nashville Predators.
Although Demko hoped to be good to go by the third round of the playoffs, Demko “hit a wall” in the summer, and needed to dial back his rehab process a bit. Given the uncertain nature of Demko’s injury — along with how well Kevin Lankinen has played in his absence  — it’s believed that the Canucks are erring on the extreme side of caution when it comes to the health of their All-Star goaltender.
Through eight games without Demko this season, the Canucks have amassed a 4-1-3 record, and currently sit third in the Pacific Division. Four of those wins and two of those overtime losses are thanks to the aforementioned Kevin Lankinen, who has been one of the NHL’s best goaltenders to kick off the 2024-25 season.
Lankinen ranks 11th among NHL starters in save percentage, and ninth among starters in goals against average since the start of the season. Signed on the final day of training camp, getting Lankinen signed to such a team friendly $875,000 contract has already proven to be one of this management group’s sharpest acquisitions.
Arturs Silovs will make his third start of the season Wednesday against New Jersey, however, and you can read our full pregame report with Jeff Paterson’s Scenes from Morning Skate by clicking here!
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