Thatcher Demko reminded onlookers why heB次元官网网址檚 considered one of the NHLB次元官网网址檚 top goalies on Tuesday.

The Vancouver Canucks netminder stopped all 25 saves he faced B次元官网网址� some in dramatic fashion B次元官网网址� and backstopped his team to a 3-0 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.

It was the ninth shutout of DemkoB次元官网网址檚 career and his first since Jan. 22, 2024.

Over the past year, heB次元官网网址檚 suffered a rare injury, gritted through gruelling rehabilitation, and worked his way back into the CanucksB次元官网网址� crease.

B次元官网网址淗e works so hard,B次元官网网址� said Vancouver winger Brock Boeser. B次元官网网址淗e does everything the right way. HeB次元官网网址檚 such a good pro and for him to get a shutout tonight, just as one of his good friends, itB次元官网网址檚 awesome to see. And to see him make some saves like that, IB次元官网网址檓 just so happy for him.B次元官网网址�

DemkoB次元官网网址檚 most impressive sequence of the night came midway through the second period when he batted away Cale MakarB次元官网网址檚 shot from the slot. Moments later, he slid all the way across his crease to kick away Artturi LehkonenB次元官网网址檚 backdoor shot with the toe of his left skate.

Cheers of B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 go Demko!B次元官网网址� emanated throughout the rink during the ensuing TV timeout.

B次元官网网址淗e was outstanding,B次元官网网址� said Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet.

B次元官网网址淭hose are 10-bell saves, right? And then we settled down. But I thought Demmer gave us a chance to settle us down.B次元官网网址�

A finalist for last yearB次元官网网址檚 V茅zina Trophy as one of the NHLB次元官网网址檚 best goalies, Demko was sidelined last spring after injuring a muscle in his knee during the first game of VancouverB次元官网网址檚 playoff run.

The 29-year-old from San Diego, Cali., missed training camp and didnB次元官网网址檛 play his first game of the season until Dec. 10.

With TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 win, Demko improved to 5-6-3 on the year with a .882 save percentage and a 3.03 goals-against average. Over his last three appearances, his save percentage is .943.

B次元官网网址淚 think the last three or four games, his gameB次元官网网址檚 coming,B次元官网网址� Tocchet said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e gotta remember the guyB次元官网网址檚 been off so long, and heB次元官网网址檚 used to playing a good run of games. But weB次元官网网址檙e fortunate to have a guy like (goalie Kevin Lankinen). So our goaltending, weB次元官网网址檙e in good shape with goaltending.B次元官网网址�

For Demko, getting a shutout is nice, but itB次元官网网址檚 repetition that matters.

B次元官网网址淵ou gotta do it again,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 know where my gameB次元官网网址檚 at right now. ThereB次元官网网址檚 been some games that probably didnB次元官网网址檛 reflect that.

B次元官网网址淪ometimes thatB次元官网网址檚 the challenging part as a player, is being able to have confidence and trust in yourself internally when you know externally, it might not look that way. So I know what direction IB次元官网网址檓 headed, and certainly tonight was a good game.B次元官网网址�

The goalie also credited the defensive performance in front of him on Tuesday and noted that players stepped up in the absence of captain Quinn Hughes, who missed a second straight game with an undisclosed injury.

B次元官网网址淥bviously, Huggy leaves a huge hole in our lineup, but itB次元官网网址檚 always a next man up,B次元官网网址� Demko said. B次元官网网址淓very year, whatever team youB次元官网网址檙e on, itB次元官网网址檚 just kind of the nature of the business, you gotta be ready to go for situations like that. So weB次元官网网址檙e obviously eager for him to return, but in the meantime, we gotta get the job done.B次元官网网址�