Report: Canucks’ Thatcher Demko only expected to miss 2-3 weeks with “minor injury”

The Vancouver Canucks got a somewhat positive update regarding Thatcher Demko, as the goaltender is only expected to miss 2-3 weeks with a minor injury after leaving Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, according to a report from insider Frank Seravalli.

The injury comes in Demko’s first game back after a three-game absence, one which was explained by Demko and the Canucks as maintenance and taking care of the San Diego, California product amidst a condensed schedule due to the Olympic break, and the team was adamant that it wasn’t injury-related. Seravalli reports that this injury isn’t related to those maintenance days, and also isn’t related to the knee injury that kept Demko out for a large part of last season.

Demko sustained the injury at some point of the first period of Tuesday’s game, but he played the entirety of the frame before not returning for the second period. The Canucks confirmed his absence at the start of the second period, with Kevin Lankinen taking over in his place. Demko stopped only five of eight shots for a .625 save percentage in the first, while Lankinen stopped 20 of 21 for a .952 SV% in relief.

While the specifics of Demko’s injury still haven’t been confirmed by the Canucks, he was spotted stretching his lower body at points of the first period during the game, so that is believed to be the potential injury. Some think that Demko sustained the injury during this play, a cross-crease save on Cole Perfetti.

Demko’s current timeline for return has him missing somewhere between five to 10 games for the Canucks. Lankinen will take over the starting goaltender role again, while Jiri Patera, who was on the roster backing Lankinen during Demko’s previous absence, will be the back up again.

The Canucks play two back-to-backs during Demko’s projected time of absence, so Patera will at least start during those games. He may potentially get one more if Demko takes a bit longer to return, as the Canucks have another back-to-back a few days after that time period.

When healthy, Demko has had a solid season, as in 10 games he has a 5-4-0 record, a .903 SV% and an 7.49 5v5 goals saved above expected that ranks sixth among all goalies this season. However, health continues to be a concern for him, as this will be the fourth-consecutive season that he’s missed a decent amount of time with an injury.

The Canucks will resume life without Demko when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday at 4 p.m. PST. Vancouver currently sits in seventh in the Pacific Division with an 8-9-1 record.