Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (35) makes a save against the San Jose Sharks during the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Canucks’ Thatcher Demko leaves game with a lower-body injury

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff | By Colton Davies | Last updated 12/1/22

Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko was helped off the ice late in the first period against the Florida Panthers after sustaining an apparent lower-body injury. Demko was helped off the ice by training staff following the Panthers’ third goal in less than a minute.

Demko made a flurry of saves and stretched out to stop a shot from Panthers’ forward Patric Hornqvist when he seemed to strain his hamstring. As he made his way to the locker room, he was seen limping and in significant discomfort.

Goaltender Thatcher Demko will not return to tonight’s game.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) December 2, 2022

Demko is coming off a major Canucks campaign that saw him post 2.72 goals against average (GAA) and a .915 save percentage (SV%) in 64 starts last season. He also represented the Canucks at the 2021-22 NHL All-Star game. This season, it has not been so pretty.

Through 14 games played Demko has posted a 3.81 GAA and .885 SV%, with a record of 3-9-2. Now with an injury on the tab, things don’t look to be getting much better for the Canucks or their goalie of the future. Demko signed a five-year $25 million contract extension with the Canucks in April 2021 under former General Manager Jim Benning.

Oakville, Ontario, product Spencer Martin took over between the pipes following Demko’s injury. Martin was stellar last season with the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL. He held a 2.43 GAA and .914 SV% through 25 games. This season with Vancouver, he has posted a 3.23 GAA and .902 SV% to go along with a record of 6-2-1.

The 27-year-old netminder has become relied upon during the Canucks recent downtrend, he will be even more relied upon as the Canucks now deal with an injury to their starting goaltender. The Cnanucks will likely call up Latvian goaltender Arturs Silovs from Abbotsford.

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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