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Vancouver Canucks Goalkeeper Thatcher Demko Faces Injury Setbacks
| Date | Event | Details | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start of Season | Injury | Thatcher Demko started the year injured and has dealt with more ailments along the way, appearing in just 17 games so far this year. | Limited playing time and frequent absences. |
| February 8 | Injury | Demko left his most recent start against the Toronto Maple Leafs midway through the first period. Head coach Rick Tocchet initially downplayed the severity, but Demko has now missed five weeks of action. | Extended absence, affecting team performance. |
| February 8 | Diagnosis | Rick Dhaliwal confirmed it’s a groin issue, not an aggravation of Demko’s previous knee injury. | Clarification on the nature of the injury. |
| 2022-23 Season | Previous Injury | Demko missed three months of the 2022-23 season with a groin injury. | Historical context of similar injury issues. |
| Current Status | Recovery | The injury is not expected to be season-ending, but Demko needs practice sessions, which are hard to come by due to the compact schedule. | Challenges in recovery and return to play. |
| Schedule Impact | Practice Time | Rick Dhaliwal explained on Halford & Brough that the Canucks’ schedule is not helping Demko’s recovery, as back-to-back games leave little time for practices. | Limited practice opportunities due to schedule constraints. |
| Upcoming Games | Schedule | The Canucks have another set of back-to-back games this upcoming weekend against Chicago and Utah. | Continued tight schedule affecting Demko’s return. |
| Current Backup | Kevin Lankinen | With Demko out, the Canucks have turned to Kevin Lankinen, who started the team’s back-to-back games earlier this week, helping the Canucks earn a massive win over the Calgary Flames. | Lankinen’s performance and role in Demko’s absence. |
| Playoff Race | Team Dynamics | The Canucks are in the thick of a playoff race and would love to have Demko back, but he needs practice time to get there. | Importance of Demko’s return for the team’s playoff aspirations. |
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