Demko remains out to start Round 2

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko will miss Game 1 of Round 2 against the Edmonton Oilers, head coach Rick Tocchet announced Sunday, per Sportsnet's Brendan Batchelor.

Demko's status beyond Game 1 is unknown.

The 28-year-old started Vancouver's playoff opener against the Nashville Predators but missed the remaining five games of the series due to a knee injury. While it's not the same injury that caused Demko to miss 14 games late in the regular season, it is the same knee that's ailing him.

Backup goalie Casey DeSmith started Games 2 and 3 against the Predators before suffering an injury of his own. He was healthy enough to return for Game 5, though rookie third-stringer Arturs Silovs started over the veteran to close out the series.

The 23-year-old Silovs performed admirably despite entering the postseason with just nine games of NHL experience. He posted a .938 save percentage in three postseason appearances, including a 28-save shutout in the series-clinching Game 6 victory.

However, the Oilers present an entirely different challenge than the Predators. Edmonton boasted the NHL's No. 4 offense and power play in the regular season and put up 22 goals in five games in Round 1 against the Los Angeles Kings.

Demko was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy after posting a .918 save percentage and a 2.45 goals-against average in 51 games during the 2023-24 regular season.

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