Rick Tocchet may have lost his starting goaltender in Thatcher Demko for three-to-four weeks with an apparent knee injury but the Canucks head coach certainly hasnB次元官网网址檛 lost his sense of humor.

During his media availability session after a morning practice at Rogers Arena on Tuesday, Tocchet was in an engaging mood when it came to the topic of goaltending in general.

When asked by this agent about goalie Casey DeSmithB次元官网网址檚 makeup and how it would impact his ability to transform from a back-up to the starter for the next few weeks, TocchetB次元官网网址檚 answer had the media contingent chuckling.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 well-liked. IB次元官网网址檝e been in the league some 40 years or whatever, but when you like the goalie, you tend to block more shots for the guy. I donB次元官网网址檛 know why. IB次元官网网址檝e had some goalies where IB次元官网网址檓 not a big fan of the guy. IB次元官网网址檓 not saying I kind of veered out of the way but when you like a goalie, youB次元官网网址檒l really dive in (front of a shot),B次元官网网址� said Tocchet drawing some laughs from the assembled media. B次元官网网址淭hose guys love Casey. So youB次元官网网址檒l see a lot of guys willing to block shots B次元官网网址� like they do for Demmer

Then a few minutes later when asked if the team would be a little bit more cognizant about the defensive side of the game with DeSmith in goal, Tocchet came up with some more material.

B次元官网网址淒o I want to put him in a bad situation by turning the puck over and they get a three-on-one? I think those guys are conscious of that. Casey has done a lot for us. He doesnB次元官网网址檛 play a ton or all the time. HeB次元官网网址檚 a great guy. I think that comes into play. Then the guy dumps it in because he likes him. I donB次元官网网址檛 know if that makes sense,B次元官网网址� said Tocchet as the media chuckled.

B次元官网网址淪o if a guy doesnB次元官网网址檛 dump it in tomorrow and itB次元官网网址檚 a three-on-one youB次元官网网址檙e going to say he doesnB次元官网网址檛 like the guy.B次元官网网址�

All kidding aside, losing a Vezina Trophy candidate in Demko is no joke but perhaps TocchetB次元官网网址檚 mood gave us some perspective on how heB次元官网网址檚 feeling about DemkoB次元官网网址檚 injury and the confidence that he has in DeSmith.

The official word from Tocchet on DemkoB次元官网网址檚 injury is B次元官网网址渓ower-body, week-to-weekB次元官网网址� but Canucks Nation biggest fear B次元官网网址� that Demko wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be ready for the playoffs B次元官网网址� wasnB次元官网网址檛 even on the head coachB次元官网网址檚 radar.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not worried about that at all,B次元官网网址� answered Tocchet, adding that the upcoming time off for Demko was actually a positive given his workload this season.

As for DeSmith, this isnB次元官网网址檛 the first time heB次元官网网址檚 been called upon to be the number one goalie and those previous experiences with the Pittsburgh Penguins give him full confidence moving forward.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e done this a couple of times in my career just filling in for injury and getting the net for a little while. IB次元官网网址檝e always enjoyed the experience and had some good success in the past when IB次元官网网址檝e had the net for a couple of weeks, so IB次元官网网址檓 looking forward to it. I have my job to do and IB次元官网网址檓 just a very small part of the big picture, so I try to worry about my little part and not the big picture,B次元官网网址� DeSmith said.

With Demko out of the lineup, the Canucks have summoned Arturs Silovs from their AHL farm team in Abbotsford where the 22-year-old Latvian was enjoying a solid season posting a 2.74 GAA to go along with a .907 save percentage in 32 games.

B次元官网网址淚 remember last year when we called him up, the second and third game you could see the improvement in Silovs so I think itB次元官网网址檚 good that he gets a taste of it up here,B次元官网网址� said Tocchet.

Despite SilovB次元官网网址檚 success this season, this is DeSmithB次元官网网址檚 time.

B次元官网网址淎s of now, weB次元官网网址檙e just going game-to-game. CaseyB次元官网网址檚 definitely going to get the next two games and weB次元官网网址檒l go from there. I think Casey deserves the chance to get the ball and take it,B次元官网网址� explained Tocchet.

OVERTIME

* DeSmith says the biggest adjustment heB次元官网网址檚 going to have to make in his new role is how he handles practice time. B次元官网网址淧ractices are a little different. IB次元官网网址檒l get a couple of more sessions in with Clarkie (goaltending coach Ian Clark) than maybe I would normally. Then not staying on after (practice) as much, getting your work done before practice, going through practice, getting off and then taking care of the body a little bit,B次元官网网址� said DeSmith.

* Tocchet believes a big key for the clubB次元官网网址檚 improved play as of late has been the ability to take away the oppositionB次元官网网址檚 speed through the neutral zone. The coaching staff made a video presentation to the players about four games ago and it seems to have resonated with the group.

* Defenseman Tyler Myers, who has missed the last four games with a lower-body injury, was a full participant in practice on Tuesday and is expected to be ready for either the game against Colorado tonight at Rogers Arena or when the Washington Capitals visit on Saturday.

* The organization announced a contract extension for Abbotsford general manager Ryan Johnson and that he has also been promoted to Assistant General Manager with Vancouver. The Canucks also announced contract extensions for Assistant General Managers Cammi Granato and 脡milie Castonguay.

Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob B次元官网网址渢he MojB次元官网网址� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.

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