Thatcher Demko will want the net Tuesday in Calgary to make amends for a couple of goals Saturday he’d like to have back. But Kevin Lankinen is 10-1-1 on the road
Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames
When/where: Tuesday, 6 p.m., Scotiabank Saddledome
TV: SN Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650
The buzz: This is how it usually works to determine which goaltender is going to command the net.
The designated starter customarily has a franchise book of work, and the salary, to log the majority of games. It does deviate when a capable backup has a proven track record against a particular club, or warrants more time with superlative numbers at home or the road.
Add Flames rookie stopper Dustin Wolf posting crazy numbers on home ice — 911, 2.06 goals-against average, .935 save percentage, two shutouts — and it only adds to more crease drama.
Demko will want the net Tuesday in Calgary to make amends for a couple of goals Saturday he would like to have back. His 2-1-3 record since returning from poplilteus muscle knee injury, includes a bloated 3.43 GAA average and .879 saves percentage.
He is working toward getting his “A” game back, and an encouraging sign was 31 saves in a 3-1 win over Colorado on Dec. 16.
“When you’re out for that amount of time, your mind wanders for sure, but it comes back to control what you can control,” stressed Demko. “It’s human nature to start gripping too tight or worried about what the future might hold.”
The counterpoint is to all this Lankinen. His sparkling 10-1-1 road record includes winning his first 10 away games to set an NHL record. He is tied for fewest losses, second in wins, GAA (2.06) and shutouts (2), and third in saves percentage.
The Canucks have back-to-backs in Seattle on Thursday and home Friday against Nashville. Splitting the cage there is a no-brainer, but then it gets interesting.
Seven of the next 10 games are on the road, including tough tests against Washington, Carolina, Toronto and Winnipeg. There is also another back-to-back, but if someone gets on a roll, remaining games are spread out.
“Obviously, Lanks (Lankinen) is going to play on this trip and so is Demmer (Demko) and I haven’t really decided yet,” said Tocchet.
The top guns: Boeser has five goals in his last three games and his 13 markers have the pending UFA winger on pace for 38 goals.
The quote: “I counted about 10 times in the last couple of games in the first 10 minutes where we had the opportunity to get the puck to the net with people and we deferred to something else. I don’t know if that’s confidence or not moving your feet. That definitely has to change.” — Tocchet on lack of shot volume.
The projected lineup:
DeBrusk-Miller-Boeser
Hoglander-Suter-Garland
Heinen-Blueger-Sherwood
Joshua-Sasson-Di Giuseppe
Forbort-Myers
Soucy-Juulsen
Brannstrom-Desharnais
The prediction: The Canucks’ 11th-ranked power play takes advantage of the Flames’ paltry 29th-rated penalty kill to win the special-teams battle in a 3-2 triumph.