Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko suffers concussion at practice
The Vancouver Canucks will be without Thatcher Demko for tonight’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes, and maybe longer.
Head coach Travis Green revealed that the 24-year-old goaltender suffered a concussion in practice yesterday. Mike DiPietro has been called up from Utica and will back up Jacob Markstrom.
Demko suffered a concussion at practice yesterday and DiPietro has been recalled, said Coach Green.
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) December 12, 2019
Coach Green discusses injury updates and lineup, Demko, Virtanen, Ferland and talks about tonight's matchup with the visiting Hurricanes. pic.twitter.com/yEJZMh78dM
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) December 12, 2019
Demko also suffered a concussion during training camp last year, which kept him off the ice for nearly two months. There’s no word yet on the severity of Demko’s concussion, but every brain injury is to be treated with caution.
DiPietro could draw into a game, as the Canucks have a busy schedule that sees them play three games in four nights, including back-to-back nights in San Jose Saturday and Las Vegas Sunday.
Ferland, who is not in concussion protocol, is seeing a specialist, said Coach Green. Gaudette did not skate this morning, but is good to go for tonight.
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) December 12, 2019
In other news, Canucks GM Jim Benning has said that Micheal Ferland did not sustain a concussion during Tuesday’s game as many had feared. Green confirmed that the rugged winger is not in concussion protocol, but his exact ailment is still somewhat of a mystery.
TSN 1040’s Blake Price, who broke the “it’s not a concussion” news on Wednesday, has since provided this update:
Unfortunately, hearing this could be a matter of semantics.. Ferland may be dealing with "Post Concussion" issues, which technically wouldn't fall under him being "concussed" or "in protocol".. Just something to keep in mind.. https://t.co/O3mcQDoT2h
— Blake Price (@BlakePriceTSN) December 11, 2019
So stay tuned on that one.
The Canucks are currently three points back of a playoff spot, as the Western Conference playoff race heats up. Three teams (Nashville, Minnesota, and San Jose) are within two points of Vancouver as the pressure to win games increases.
NHL.com
Despite their most recent 4-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Canucks players said afterwards that they felt like they played well. Hard to argue, too, as Vancouver hit two posts and failed to convert on three breakaways in the third period.
“We played better than the two games we won, I felt like,” Chris Tanev said after the game. “It’s part of hockey, you’re going to play good some nights and not get the results you want.”
They’d love to get a positive result tonight.
- See also:
Follow Channels and Categories