Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko delivered a stellar performance, stopping all 25 shots he faced in a 3-0 shutout victory against the Colorado Avalanche. This was Demko’s ninth career shutout and his first since January 2024. His teammates and coach were thrilled with his performance, especially given his recent injury and rehabilitation.
Demko made several key saves, including two impressive stops in the second period, earning chants of support from the crowd. Coach Rick Tocchet praised Demko’s performance, noting that his saves helped the team settle down.
Demko, a Vezina Trophy finalist last year, had been sidelined with a knee injury, missing training camp and not returning to play until December 10th. While his season stats (5-6-3 record, .882 save percentage, 3.03 GAA) are still recovering, his recent performances show improvement, with a .943 save percentage in his last three games. Tocchet expressed confidence in Demko and backup goalie Kevin Lankinen.
Demko himself emphasized the importance of consistency and repetition, stating that while the shutout was positive, he needs to continue performing at that level. He also acknowledged the strong defensive effort in front of him, particularly with the absence of captain Quinn Hughes.
The Canucks’ improved defense has been a key factor in their recent success, allowing two or fewer goals in regulation in five of their last six games. Brock Boeser attributed this to cleaner breakouts, which reduce time spent in the defensive zone.
Avalanche coach Jared Bednar criticized his team’s lack of competitiveness, particularly in the third period where they managed only four shots. He felt they weren’t hard enough to win the game, despite playing a relatively smart game overall.
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