Canucks hope to get Thatcher Demko again for battle with Blues

The Vancouver Canucks might need Thatcher Demko formally again in motion as they attempt to get on monitor on house ice towards the visiting St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.

The Canucks’ excellent 10-2-1 street document has been undermined by a 4-6-3 document at house. Solely the Chicago Blackhawks (eight) and Utah Hockey Membership (10) have fewer house factors than the 11 factors the Canucks have tallied in Vancouver this season.

The opening two video games of the Canucks’ present six-game homestand mirrored the group’s incapacity to maintain momentum in their very own constructing. Vancouver earned a 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday, nevertheless it then suffered a late breakdown in Sunday’s 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

With the rating tied 2-2 on the 14:09 mark of the third interval, some miscommunication led to the Canucks receiving a penalty for too many males on the ice. Jake Guentzel then scored on the following energy play for what proved to be the Lightning’s game-winning objective.

Vancouver was 0-for-3 on energy performs, whereas Tampa Bay went 2-for-4.

“Particular groups gained the sport for them. … I assumed five-on-five we have been superb,” Canucks coach Rick Tocchet mentioned. “Simply clearly unlucky, cannot have that too-many-men (penalty).”

Demko’s looming return from a lingering knee damage may assist spark the Canucks. Demko hasn’t performed for the reason that Canucks’ first sport of the Stanley Cup playoffs in late April, however the goaltender has served as Kevin Lankinen’s backup in Vancouver’s previous two video games with out seeing any ice time.

Somewhat than having Demko face the high-scoring Lightning or the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Thursday, Tocchet and his employees is likely to be seeking to ease Demko again into motion in between these video games, towards the extra restricted St. Louis offense. The Blues rank close to the underside of the NHL in each targets (72) and photographs per sport (26.9).

St. Louis did have a five-game level streak (4-0-1) earlier than Saturday’s 4-2 street loss to the Edmonton Oilers. It was the Blues’ first regulation defeat since Jim Montgomery was employed because the group’s coach.

Down 3-0 after two intervals towards the Oilers, St. Louis made it a 3-2 sport at 13:09 of the third interval. However simply 69 seconds after Jake Neighbours scored the Blues’ second objective, Troy Stecher scored to stifle the St. Louis rally.

“We performed somewhat bit too passive within the first two intervals,” Blues ahead Dylan Holloway mentioned. “Third interval we form of had a push and the push was good, however simply not sufficient, somewhat too late.”

Jordan Binnington allowed 4 Oilers targets on simply 21 photographs because the Blues goaltender continued his inconsistent season. Binnington has an 8-10-2 document and a .897 save share in 21 video games and is predicted to start out once more on Tuesday.

The red-hot Quinn Hughes leads the Canucks with 32 factors (seven targets, 25 assists). 13 of these factors (three targets, 10 assists) have come throughout the star defenseman’s ongoing seven-game level streak.

Holloway has 9 factors (5 targets, 4 assists) throughout a six-game level streak. Jordan Kyrou leads the Blues with 23 factors (9 targets, 14 assists).

–Area Stage Media