Canucks' Demko exits win over Kraken due to back spasms
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko departed Thursday's 4-3 shootout win against the Seattle Kraken in the second period due to back spasms, head coach Rick Tocchet announced postgame, per Sportsnet's Dan Murphy.
Demko appeared to get up gingerly after colliding with teammate Noah Juulsen.
A closer look at the play where Thatcher Demko potentially got hurt. Ends up getting clipped by... Noah Juulsen.
— Lachlan Irvine (@LachInTheCrease) January 3, 2025
Not much else to say really. 😑 #Canucks pic.twitter.com/8ayztPIknc
The netminder stayed in the game momentarily before ultimately exiting.
Bad news for the Canucks. Thatcher Demko has left the game.
— CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) January 3, 2025
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL#Canucks #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/VAVingGARu
Demko was appearing in just his seventh game of the campaign after not suiting up for all of October and November due to a knee injury. The 29-year-old also missed all but two of Vancouver's final 16 contests of the 2023-24 regular season with a knee injury and played in one of the team's 13 playoff games.
The reigning Vezina Trophy runner-up has struggled in his return this season, managing a .881 save percentage in seven appearances.
Kevin Lankinen has been stellar in Demko's place for most of the campaign with a .907 save percentage in 25 games.