Canucks prepared to rely on DeSmith as Demko's health appears uncertain

VANCOUVER – Hello, Vancouver Canucks? Adversity calling.

The extent of the adversity will reveal itself with the extent of the injury all-star goalie Thatcher Demko suffered Saturday in the second period of the Canucks’ impressive 5-0 win against the Winnipeg Jets.

Naturally, Rick Tocchet had not managed to speak to Canuck medical staff before the coach spoke to reporters, and Vancouver players knew more about quantum physics post-game than they did about their friend’s physical condition.

But any injury to Demko is a degree of bad. For now, Vancouver’s incredible and unexpected season has hit a speed bump. The Canucks hope just a little one.

“Yeah, I haven't talked to the doctor,” Tocchet said when asked about Demko one question into his press conference. “I don't think it's too serious, but I don't know. I can't speculate; I haven't talked to the doctor.”

Demko left the game during a television timeout at 6:40 of the second period, having stopped all 12 Winnipeg shots he faced. But about four minutes before his departure, Demko was on his knees and extended laterally, one skate on each post, when he was forced to react quickly to a point-blank chance for Vladislav Namestnikov.

Canuck backup Casey DeSmith played the final 33 minutes and made 10 saves as Vancouver goalies posted a shared shutout for the first time since 2015.

“Just warm up as fast as I can,” DeSmith said of his strategy as a reliever. “It was nice that I got a shot fairly early. . . so that's always nice to get the first save out of the way and then just go from there.”

Had DeSmith any warning before going in that he would be needed?

“Demmer mentioned something,” DeSmith said. “Just said, like, you know, ‘maybe just get ready.’ So it was nice having a little bit of heads-up just to get the mind right before going in. I have no idea what's going on. Obviously, I hope for the best. And hopefully it's just like a couple-of-days thing and he moves forward with no complications or anything.”

On a four-game winning streak that has seen the Canucks play better with each successive contest, they do not play again until Wednesday when another powerful National Hockey League contender, the Colorado Avalanche, visits Rogers Arena.

Demko missed nearly three months of last season after tearing a groin muscle during a Dec. 1 game against the Florida Panthers. 

“Yeah, that's tough,” Canuck centre J.T. Miller said of Demko leaving one of Vancouver’s best performances this season. “But we have total faith in Casey. He's been unreal for us all year and he's going to relish that opportunity whatever the heck happens with Demmer. We have a good part of the schedule right now where we get some time (and) hopefully he can heal up. But, you know, Casey has been great. He played great when he came in tonight, and I'm sure that's probably the hardest job in hockey — to come in off the bench like that.

“Sometimes you go through injuries and sometimes you get lucky. I think we've played hard all year and we are going to have moments where (injuries) are going to happen. But I think we have faith in the group. Whoever needs to step up is going to do it.”

Vancouver has had a charmed season and especially good health. None of the team’s core stars — Demko, Hughes, Miller, Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser and Filip Hronek — has missed a game due to injury. 

The Canucks’ most serious long-term injuries have been to No. 4 defenceman Carson Soucy, third-line winger Dakota Joshua, important role players Teddy Blueger and Pius Suter, and fourth-line winger Phil DiGiuseppe. Third defenceman Tyler Myers has missed the last four games with an undisclosed injury but is expected to return this week.

Prior to Saturday, Demko was second only to Avalanche goalie Alexandar Georgiev in minutes played, was third in the league with 48 starts, and fourth in shots faced and saves. Demko was also tied for first in wins (33), third in shutouts (five) and fifth in save percentage (.916).

He is in the conversation with captain Hughes as the most valuable Canuck this season.

Even with the reliability of an experienced backup like DeSmith, the loss of Demko for any significant duration will be a major challenge. The playoffs start in six weeks.

If DeSmith needs to fill-in for Demko as starter, at least he is back in top form. After losing four straight starts (over nearly two months), DeSmith stopped 17 of 18 shots in a 2-1 road win against the Anaheim Ducks last Sunday, before going 10-for-10 against the Jets.

“It's generally easier when you play more,” DeSmith said. “You get to feel the game and feel the puck more in games. It's obviously harder playing less and then going into a game. So if I have to start a couple in a row here while Demmer recovers from whatever he's got, then I'll be ready for that.”

After a torturous schedule in February, when Demko started 11 of 13 games over a period of 24 days coming out of the All-Star break, the Canucks are entering the least taxing stretch of their regular season.

Saturday’s win was the opener of a nine-game homestand spread over 23 days. These games, however, are vitally important to the team’s playoff preparations as it gets ready for the organization’s first non-bubble appearance in the Stanley Cup tournament since 2015.

“The schedule kind of sets up for that,” Tocchet said of managing Demko. “And we're confident in Casey. I think we play three games in 11 days or something, so there’s a lot of time for (Demko) to get some rest and whatever we’ve got to do to get him healthy again. But yeah, we’ve got to manage him for sure.”

The loss of Demko took some of the shine off the Canucks’ win, and much of the atmosphere out of Rogers Arena.

A 4-2 Winnipeg win on the same sheet of ice three weeks ago sparked a four-game Vancouver losing streak, part of a 1-5-1 slide. But the Canucks dominated the Jets in the first 40 minutes Saturday. They led 3-0 after one period and were up 4-0 before Demko was hurt.

Healthy-scratched twice by Tocchet in the first month of the season, Nils Hoglander continued his remarkable ascent with his 20^th goal of the campaign. He and Quinn Hughes also helped set up Miller’s 32^nd goal.

DiGiuseppe scored from Teddy Blueger’s beautiful pass on a two-on-one, Pettersson scored his 31^st of the season on a power play, and Pius Suter took advantage of a bounce to score unassisted in the third period. Jet Connor Hellebuyck was only the third-best goalie, beaten five times on 37 shots.

“Kind of a textbook win,” Canuck Conor Garland said. “It’s hard to win 5-0 against a team like that. We’re playing well, guys are clicking right now. We’re a pretty confident group.”