Patera will be the surprise starter on Wednesday after all after Adin Hill was a late scratch due to his undisclosed injury. Patera hasn't played since December 10th, when he allowed four goals on 38 shots enroute to a 5-4 victory over the Sharks. He'll have his hands full on Wednesday as the Golden Knights travel to Colorado to take on Nathan MacKinnon and the Avalanche.
Thompson made his NHL debut Sunday vs. Boston and got one shot on goal across 14 shifts and 11:39 TOI but will return to Syracuse (AHL) Monday. The 21-year-old was returned to the minors as Erik Cernak (upper body) likely returns to Tampa Bay's lineup Tuesday.
Demko has started three straight games for the Canucks and will start again on Monday, the front end of a back-to-back. Demko has been solid all season but is amid a weaker run of play, allowing three or more goals in four of his last five games (3-1-1), posting an uncharacteristically low .891 SV%. The Canucks are coming off a 6-4 win over the New Jersey Devils on the weekend but are +129 road underdogs against a New York Rangers club that has collected at least a point in three of their last four (2-1-1).
Demko has started three straight games for the Canucks and will likely start again on Monday, the front end of a back-to-back. Demko has been solid all season but is amid a weaker run of play, allowing three or more goals in four of his last five games (3-1-1), posting an uncharacteristically low .891 SV%. The Canucks are coming off a 6-4 win over the New Jersey Devils on the weekend but are +129 road underdogs against a New York Rangers club that has collected at least a point in three of their last four (2-1-1).
Declan Carlile and Sean Day have both been reassigned to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL, prompting the Lightning to recall Thompson and Emil Martinsen-Lilleberg. In 31 games with Syracuse (AHL), Thompson has 20 points (2G / 18A).
Demko will start his second straight game and look for his third consecutive victory for the Canucks on Thursday. The 28-year-old Demko has helped his team collect a point in his last seven games (6-0-1), allowing three or fewer goals five times and posting a serviceable .917 SV%. The Canucks are -147 road favourites against a St. Louis Blues team that has lost two straight, being outscored 6-3.
Karlsson is expected to skate on a line with Andrei Kuzmenko and Nils Aman in his first game since December 5th. Through three games this season, Karlsson has yet to record a point while averaging 10:26 time-on-ice.
Linus Karlsson is expected to re-enter the Canucks lineup on Thursday as Hoglander will be a healthy scratch for the first time in nearly two months. Hoglander has zero points in his last four games, firing only three shots on goal in the process.
Aman will return to the lineup after sitting out the last contest for the Canucks and will join a line with Andrei Kuzmenko and Linus Karlsson. Through 14 games this season, Aman has four points (2G / 2A), nine blocks, and is averaging 10:38 time-on-ice.
Karlsson had seven goals, 16 assists, 10 PIMs and +8 plus/minus through 25 games played with Abbotsford (AHL) and has been recalled to Vancouver for the second time this season. The 24-year-old last appeared on December 5th for the Canucks and has yet to pick up a point in three games and only 10:26 TOI/GP.
Aman appears to be the odd-man out on Tuesday as Nils Hoglander (undisclosed) is seemingly fit to play after all. Aman has two goals and two assists in 14 games this season.
Hoglander has only one point (1G / 0A) in his last seven games and was a game-time decision on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators as he deals with an undisclosed injury. He'll skate alongside Pius Suter and Sam Lafferty on Vancouver's fourth line.
The Penguins' blue-liner returns to the lineup after being scratched each of the last six games, with the last two being due to an illness. He has no goals and one assist in eight games this season.
Hoglander has only one point (1G / 0A) in his last seven games and will be a game-time decision on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators as he deals with an undisclosed injury. He spent most of the season playing on a line with J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser.
Demko and Casey DeSmith have split starts over the last six games, but the Canucks will turn back to Demko on Tuesday. The 28-year-old Demko has been stellar for the Canucks all season, highlighted by a current six-game stretch (5-0-1), where he has posted a .916 SV%. The Canucks have not played since December 28th, a 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, and should be well rested as -143 home favourites against the Ottawa Senators, who have won three of their last four games (3-1-0).
Demko and Casey DeSmith have split starts over the last six games, but the Canucks will likely turn back to Demko on Tuesday. The 28-year-old Demko has been stellar for the Canucks all season, highlighted by a current six-game stretch (5-0-1), where he has posted a .916 SV%. The Canucks have not played since December 28th, a 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, and should be well rested as -143 home favourites against the Ottawa Senators, who have won three of their last four games (3-1-0).
