Thatcher Demko - out game 2 rd 1, questionable for rest of series

[pmorrow]

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/stat...28962043031998


Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
Hearing Thatcher Demko injured and questionable for rest of series

[jman]

Yoikes.

[Godin]

That's not good. Hopefully just the one game. They need him.

[dejeanneret]

Man, hope it's not the knee again. That'd be somewhat concerning longer term.

Regardless, tough break for Vancouver if he misses a chunk of the series. They're cooked without him.

[Bubba55]

Sounds like this injury is no small matter, sources are saying he is week to week. Day to day is not so good given the time of year, but week to week could be the end of the Canucks playoffs. Last night Casey DeSmith faced 15 Shots, gave up 3 Goals for a very mediocre .800 SV%. Not good.

[2014olympicgold]

Someone said on an intermission panel yesterday that they thought Demko got hurt near the end of game 1 and gutted it out and said it could be his knee. I heard it on the NHL XM radio station and this morning so I can't say I remember who said it, or why they thought knee but that's what I heard.

[hockeyrobot]

Oh boy. Advantage Preds.

[Canucks_fan18]

The first goal Desmith was fluky. Even though his numbers look bad it was less to do with his play and more about the Canucks capitalizing on our chances. We missed two wide open nets. We dominated play for the entire game. The shot attempts were 84 to 37 on our favor and we had double the amount of offensive zone time. Yes the Preds did a good job getting in lanes and blocking shots but they can't play on their heels the entire series like this or there going to get worn down.

[dejeanneret]

The first goal Desmith was fluky. Even though his numbers look bad it was less to do with his play and more about the Canucks capitalizing on our chances. We missed two wide open nets. We dominated play for the entire game. The shot attempts were 84 to 37 on our favor and we had double the amount of offensive zone time. Yes the Preds did a good job getting in lanes and blocking shots but they can't play on their heels the entire series like this or there going to get worn down.

True. But no Demko + series tied 1-1 + now heading back to Nashville for games 3 and 4 = advantage Preds.

The biggest takeaway for me from last night isn't that the Canucks just missed some chances. It's the continuation of a trend whereby DeSmith was, at best, exceedingly mediocre during Demko's absence and it's hard to have confidence that he'll make the key save if Nashville does turn up the pressure and start taking the play to Vancouver a bit more. The Canucks must execute nearly flawlessly in all other phases of the game to overcome that. Not a good recipe for playoff success.

[Canucks_fan18]

I would give Casey another start but Silvos although a rookie might be worth a look. He was amazing in last years World Championships for Latvia, it was a historic bronze medal for them and he won tournament MVP. Maybe he thrives in pressure.

[Bubba55]

I've done the math! If the Canucks can hold the Preds to 4 shots on goal they stand a chance (:

Or, they roll out Silvos and hope for the best. Who knows, he could absolutely stand on his head, stranger things have happened, the odds of that happening are not good, but it could happen, and I honestly think the outcome is pretty much a known if Van City loads their eggs in the DeSmith basket. As a last point, this isn't all about goaltending, 18 SOG and 1 goal is not the kind of offensive support any goalie needs these days. The offence has to be better, the team that showed up in the first game with a nice offensive effort better be the team that shows up for the rest of this series or the Nucks are on the golf course a whole lot sooner than they or their fans would like.

[audiopile]

Preds blocked almost every shot on net. Canucks should be firing pucks as hard as they can as often as they can until the Preds give up on this strategy. In the zone, on the net. We have to punish them with pain until they cant walk.

[silkysmooth]

Preds blocked almost every shot on net. Canucks should be firing pucks as hard as they can as often as they can until the Preds give up on this strategy. In the zone, on the net. We have to punish them with pain until they cant walk.

Yeah, canucks need to be letting it rip. This defensive strategy for nashville can work for a game here or there, but it's not a sustainable strategy. Eventually some pucks get through, and you are giving up way too many chances and also screening your goalie in the process.

Canucks can still win this series without Demko, but it will be harder--and if Demko is actually out for the semis too (assuming canucks advance), then i sadly cannot see them coming out of the semis.

[Canucks_fan18]

Yeah, canucks need to be letting it rip. This defensive strategy for nashville can work for a game here or there, but it's not a sustainable strategy. Eventually some pucks get through, and you are giving up way too many chances and also screening your goalie in the process.

Canucks can still win this series without Demko, but it will be harder--and if Demko is actually out for the semis too (assuming canucks advance), then i sadly cannot see them coming out of the semis.

I agree with this. There's no way Nashville can continue this strategy and win. Play the exact same game as last night, except Petey rip those open nets shots and we win.

[Bubba55]

Demko did not travel with the team to Nashville. DeSmith or Silvos, pick your poison. "We have to punish them with pain until they cant walk." ILMFAO! But, that's pretty much what's going to have to happen if the Nucks are going to get out of the first round.