Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet says Thatcher Demko has B次元官网网址渋mproved immensely the last 72 hoursB次元官网网址� as the all-star goaltender works his way back from a lower-body injury.
The 28-year-old started VancouverB次元官网网址檚 playoff opener against the Nashville Predators, but hasnB次元官网网址檛 suited up since.
Vancouver has turned to third-string rookie Arturs Silovs in the post-season after backup Casey DeSmith was hurt in Game 3 against the Predators.
Silovs, who is 4-3 in the playoffs with a .907 save percentage and a 2.71 goals-against average, led the Canucks a victory in that series and has been solid against the Oilers in the second round.
That matchup is tied 2-2 after EdmontonB次元官网网址檚 3-2 victory on home ice Tuesday. Game 5 of the best-of-seven showdown goes Thursday in Vancouver.
Tocchet, who is considering lineup changes after ripping some of his rosterB次元官网网址檚 effort in Game 5, didnB次元官网网址檛 commit to Demko playing against the Oilers, but told reporters Wednesday the Vezina Trophy finalist has made B次元官网网址渂ig stridesB次元官网网址� in recent days.
Tocchet wasnB次元官网网址檛 happy with the performances of B次元官网网址渇ive or six guysB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� including star centre Elias Pettersson B次元官网网址� in the aftermath of TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 loss that evened the Pacific Division matchup.
And the CanucksB次元官网网址� top prospect might be the beneficiary.
Tocchet didnB次元官网网址檛 shoot down the notion that Swedish winger Jonathan Lekkerimaki could be an option Thursday in what would be his NHL debut.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 swinging the bat. IB次元官网网址檓 not scared,B次元官网网址� Tocchet said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know much about him B次元官网网址� youB次元官网网址檝e got to get your intel.B次元官网网址�
Selected with the 15th pick at the 2022 NHL draft, the 19-year-old put up 19 goals and 32 points in 49 combined games with Orebro HK of SwedenB次元官网网址檚 top division this season.
Lekkerimaki also scored seven times and added three assists on home soil at the 2024 world junior hockey championship to earn MVP honours as part of his countryB次元官网网址檚 silver-medal finish.
He got a first taste of North American pro hockey during a six-game stint with the AHLB次元官网网址檚 Abbotsford Canucks in late March and early April that saw him pick up a goal and an assist.
The five-foot-11 forward returned to Sweden last month in hopes of making his nationB次元官网网址檚 world championship roster, but was among the final cuts.
LekkerimakiB次元官网网址檚 last competitive game was April 7.
B次元官网网址淚f we feel as an organization heB次元官网网址檚 (ready), IB次元官网网址檝e got no problem at all,B次元官网网址� Tocchet said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not scared to put somebody in. When youB次元官网网址檙e close to achieving something, which is trying to get to the next round, youB次元官网网址檒l do whatever. ThatB次元官网网址檚 the way it is.
B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 play safe if you want to win. YouB次元官网网址檝e got to go for it.B次元官网网址�
READ ALSO:
