Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko has been ruled out of Game 2 of the team’s Western Conference first-round series against the visiting Nashville Predators on Tuesday.
Canucks coach Rick Tocchet made the announcement, noting that Demko is day-to-day and that his current issue is not related to his previous knee injury. TSN, however, reported that Demko is questionable for the remainder of the series.
Casey DeSmith will start Tuesday’s game for the Canucks, who posted a 4-2 victory over the Predators on Sunday in the opener of the best-of-seven series.
Demko, 28, made 20 saves in that game. He returned for the last two contests of the regular season after being sidelined since mid-March with a knee injury.
Demko enjoyed a career season in 2023-24, posting a 35-14-2 record with five shutouts, a 2.45 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage in 51 games (all starts) this season.
DeSmith, 32, went 12-9-6 with a 2.89 GAA and .895 save percentage in 29 appearances (27 starts) this season.
