Vancouver Canucks News

With the surprising news that Thatcher Demko (undisclosed) will not be available for game two, and possibly beyond, the Canucks will turn to DeSmith in the crease. DeSmith is familiar with the Canucks crease as he was their mainstay between the pipes for the latter part of the season as Demko missed most of the final month due to a knee injury. DeSmith had a 2.89 GAA and .895 SV% in 29 games this season (12-9-6). The Canucks enter game two against the Nashville Predators as -131 home favourites.

Demko missed 14 games toward the end of the regular season due to a knee injury before returning for the final two games heading into the playoffs. He was solid in a 4-2 game-one victory over the Nashville Predators on Sunday, saving 20 of 22 shots (.909 SV%) but will be sidelined for game two and possibly beyond with an undisclosed injury. It is unclear if this injury is related to his previous ailment.

Filip Hronek (rest) will have the night off on Thursday, allowing Friedman to re-enter the lineup. The 28-year-old Friedman has only played once in the last month and has one point (0G / 1A) in 22 games this season.

J.T. Miller (rest) will have the night off on Thursday, allowing Di Guiseppe to re-enter the lineup. The 30-year-old Di Giuseppe has 10 points (5G / 5A) in 50 games this season.

Ian Cole (rest) will have the night off on Thursday, allowing Juulsen to re-enter the lineup. Juulsen has tallied seven points (1G / 6A) in 53 games with Vancouver this season.

Noah Juulsen will draw into the lineup for the Canucks on Thursday, allowing Cole to have the night off in their final game before the playoffs. Cole ends the 2023-24 campaign with 11 points (2G / 9A) and 166 blocks in 78 games.

Mark Friedman will draw into the Canucks lineup on Thursday, allowing Hronek to have the night off in their final game before the playoffs. Hronek ends the 2023-24 campaign with a career-high 48 points (5G / 43A) in 81 games.

Phil Di Giuseppe will draw into the lineup in favour of Miller, who will have the night off in the Canucks final game before the playoffs. Miller ends the 2023-24 campaign with another tremendous campaign, scoring a career-high 103 points (37G / 66A) in 81 games.

After returning from a multi-week injury on Tuesday, Demko will return to the crease for the Canucks for his second straight game. Demko was excellent in his return to action, picking up where he left off, saving 39 of 40 shots (.975 SV%) in a 4-1 victory over the Calgary Flames. The Canucks enter action as -107 road favourites on Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets.

Podkolzin was the 10th overall pick of the Canucks in the 2019 NHL Entry draft and has been rewarded with a two-year contract extension. He has been limited to 18 games with Vancouver this season, spending most of the 2023-24 campaign in the AHL, scoring 28 points (15G / 13A) in 44 games with the Abbotsford Cancuks.

Boeser will not play on Thursday and get an extra night of rest before the beginning of the playoffs. The 27-year-old Boeser ends the 2023-24 campaign with career-highs in goals (40) and points (73), accumulated across 81 games this season.

With Thatcher Demko's return from a lower-body injury, Silovs has been reassigned to the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL. The 23-year-old Silovs recorded a 2.47 GAA and .881 SV% in four games (3-0-1) with Vancouver.

Demko has missed the previous 14 games due to a knee injury but will make his much-anticipated return on Tuesday vs. Calgary. The 28-year-old will look to extend his personal three-game winning streak and build on his impressive 34-13-2 record, 2.47 GAA, .917 SV% and five shutouts on the season. He'll host the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, who despite being out of the playoffs have won their last two games but are ranked 17th in the NHL in goals per game (3.09).