Demko showed flashes of his Vezina Trophy finalist form Wednesday and should get the net Friday. It would make a lot of sense.
Vancouver Canucks vs. Dallas Stars
When/where: Friday, 5 p.m., American Airlines Center
TV: SN Pacific. Radio: Sportsnet 650
What Tocchet didn’t dwell upon was why Demko played, especially after the consistent Kevin Lankinen was expected to get a run of all three games on this trip.
There was some buzz that Lankinen, whose 13-3-3 road record ranks second, had the stomach flu. Now, the bigger buzz is that Demko, who showed flashes of his Vezina Trophy finalist form against the Predators, should get the net Friday. It would make a lot of sense.
For a guy who looked like, and sounded like, he had lost his mojo in a recent 1-3-0 run where he allowed 16 goals, turning back the pesky Predators was perfect prep to gain more traction.
“I kind of needed that one,” Demko admitted of the Nashville triumph. “It felt good to be on the winning side, and I feel a little bit like myself again. A lot to build off.”
“We’ve been battling that consistency all year. We’ve got to string some wins together and do done a really good job of playing connected.”
Demko also plays well against the Stars and has often been at this best in Dallas.
The connection between Demko and Lankinen is vital. You need two reliable stoppers to get through the grind and avoid injury. You can ride the hot one, but Lankinen has has had the odd night where he looked more vulnerable than comfortable.
Lankinen has also played 32 games and is five short of a career high. The big question is sustainability and durability, but Lankinen believes he’s capable of more. It will go a long way to determine an approach for a contract extension for the unflappable Finn.
In the interim, a tandem that is solid and supportive is going to be the ticket to the postseason. And for Demko, school remains in session.
A popliteus knee-muscle injury, and a long and frustrating rehab process, put the starter in a difficult place to regain his game and confidence. His numbers remain bloated — 3.27 goals-agains average and .877 saves percentage — but his resolve is intact.
And with just another year remaining on his extension, it’s time to put everybody at ease.
“I haven’t been good enough this year, so far, and I’ve got to keep working to get to a level I know I can get to,” added Demko. “It’s been an odd year, but that’s irrelevant. I’ve got to show up when my name is called.”
The fear: Losing special-teams battle. Stars have third-ranked penalty kill (84.2 per cent), and a shorthanded goal Tuesday ignited a rally to beat Golden Knights 4-3 for third-straight win. The Canucks have 10th-ranked power play (22.8 per cent) and it needs to strike.
The wounded: Canucks: Kiefer Sherwood (undisclosed, day-to-day, IR). Stars: Tyler Seguin (hip, IR), Nils Lundqvist (undisclosed, IR), Miro Heiskanen (lower body, day-to-day), Mason Marchment (facial fracture, day-to-day).
The quote: “He’s a world-class goalie. I have a ton of confidence in the guy and that’s why he started. He was awesome.” — Tocchet on Demko’s play Wednesday.
The projected lineup:
Heinen-Miller-Boeser
Hoglander-Pettersson-Karlsson
DeBrusk-Suter-Garland
Joshua-Blueger-Di Giuseppe
Hughes-Myers
Forbort-Hronek
Soucy-Juulsen
Demko
The prediction: Goaltending is usually the difference when these clubs meet. If he gets the nod, Demko has a history of delivering in Dallas. Gets the job done in 4-2 win.