Canucks’ Thatcher Demko Out for Six Weeks

Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko in April 2022
Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko in April 2022. Photo by Canadian Press/Shutterstock (12894027t)

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko will be sidelined for six weeks after incurring a lower-body injury. The player was forced to leave the ice early during the Canucks’ 5-1 home loss to the Florida Panthers on Thursday.

Late in the first period, Demko was unable to put any weight on his right leg and needed help getting to the sidelines. The injury appeared to occur when Demko stretched out his right pad when trying to stop Ryan Lomberg’s goal 47 seconds before the buzzer.

“A lot of teams have lot of injuries, and we’ll overcome and we’ll be better for it, and he’ll be better for it in the end when he’s healthy,” Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau commented on Saturday. Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes expressed his support, stating that the team is looking forward to the day that Demko returns to the lineup.

Demko is 3-10-2 with a 3.93 goals-against average and a .883 save percentage this season. He was replaced during the Panthers game by Spencer Martin, who made 12 saves in Demko’s absence.

Boudreau praised Martin’s performance during the Panthers’ defeat, describing him as a hardworking and competitive player.