The Vancouver Canucks have been waiting a long time for this day.
Head coach Rick Tocchet confirmed Thatcher Demko will start in net tonight for the first time in over seven months. The goalie has not seen game action since hurting his knee in the first game of last year’s playoffs, 233 days ago.
“He’s comfortable enough to go in, we’re excited, obviously he’s a huge part of our team,” said Tocchet about the netminder’s debut.
Rick Tocchet says Demko is starting tonight#Canucks
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Demko has spent the past two games as the backup to Kevin Lankinen, ready to play if needed. With a regular 7 pm start time for tonight’s contest against the St. Louis Blues, it’s the perfect spot for Demko to take back the starter’s role.
The American has been fully practicing with the team for a few weeks now as he continues to test his knee and put it through challenges.
“I get to see all the work he’s done off the ice, he wanted to be back for the first game obviously but the injury set him back. He’s been working hard and it’s good to see him back,” said Elias Pettersson today after morning skate.
Demko’s recovery process has been filled with twists and turns as the goalie dealt with a rare knee issue never found before in a hockey player. It’s affected his popliteus, a small muscle on the back of the knee.
When he originally got hurt last spring, there was some optimism he would return later in the playoffs. That did not happen and the return date continued to get pushed back further and further.
The fiercely competitive goalie has been working hard to get back healthy since that date.
“I think when you look at the way Demmer has worked hard to get back, a lot of lonely times by himself, it should give guys juice, you want to play well for him. You’d be crazy not to,” said Tocchet about the team’s energy for tonight’s game.
“Maybe extra shot blocking situations, get the puck in deep when we’re tired, give him a break.”
When fully healthy, a few goalies in the world are better than Demko. He finished second in Vezina Trophy voting last season and is coming off a career year where he had a 35-14-2 record.
“Everybody knows his capabilities,” said teammate Conor Garland today. “I think he’s the best in the world. Just to add a player of that stature back to your lineup is huge and obviously we’re super excited to have him back.”
The Canucks have been getting very solid play from Lankinen in Demko’s absence. If the American can return to full health and play like he did last season, the Canucks will have one of the best goalie duos in the entire league.
“That’s a pretty good tandem,” said Garland.