Demko out Game 2, uncertain for rest of series

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko wasn't in the crease for Game 2 of their first-round series against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night due to injury. Veteran backup Casey DeSmith started in his place.

Demko is questionable for the rest of the series, reports Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.

Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet added that Demko's latest ailment "wasn't the old injury" but a day-to-day issue, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimelman.

Despite not being the same injury, it involves the same knee that caused him to miss 14 games late in the regular season, reports TSN's Farhan Lalji. Demko returned for the final two contests of the schedule, earning a win over the Calgary Flames last Tuesday and losing to the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday.

Demko didn't take part in the Canucks' optional skate Tuesday and didn't practice Monday. He also wasn't made available to reporters following Vancouver's Game 1 victory Sunday because he was receiving treatment.

Demko is a Vezina Trophy candidate this season. He posted a .918 save percentage while going 35-14-2 in 51 contests.

DeSmith went 12-9-6 with an .896 save percentage across 29 games in 2023-24. His only playoff experience to date was the "Spicy Pork and Broccoli" game in May 2022, which he exited with an injury, forcing Louis Domingue to come in and ultimately win for the Pittsburgh Penguins in triple overtime.

Rookie Arturs Silovs, the Canucks' other goalie, played five NHL games last season and four more this campaign. The 23-year-old Latvian went 3-0-1 with an .881 mark over his four appearances in 2023-24.

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