Canucks’ Demko impressing each on and off the ice: ‘He’s one of many leaders’

VANCOUVER – In explaining his determination to play Thatcher Demko for the 15^th time in 19 video games, Vancouver Canucks coach Rick Tocchet mentioned if he didn’t return his beginning goalie to the online after lacking one sport, Demko would “choke him out.”

This was foolish. The Nationwide Hockey League is organically shifting away from preventing, coaches aren’t allowed to hit gamers anymore, and, like, have you ever seen Rick Tocchet? The dude may make John Wick run and conceal.

Demko confirmed Thursday he wouldn’t, beneath any circumstances, wish to have interaction Tocchet in combined martial arts. However then, he doesn’t must put a choke maintain on his coach to play; Demko simply has to play like he did when he shut out the Chicago Blackhawks 3-0 at Rogers Enviornment to finish the Canucks’ four-game dropping streak.

Demko merely has to play like he has over the 5 weeks since he returned from a critical groin tear.

Demko made 33 saves Thursday – even the troublesome ones appeared routine – for his first shutout since a 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Dec. 6, 2021, which was Bruce Boudreau’s first sport behind the bench after changing Travis Inexperienced. In January, Tocchet turned the Canucks’ third head coach in 14 months.

“He simply appeared huge within the internet tonight,” Tocchet mentioned. “It appeared like nothing would get by him.

“I knew, clearly, he was a prime goalie. However I didn’t know the work ethic he had. And management qualities; he’s one of many leaders.”

Like most NHL goalies, even those who don’t miss half the season with an harm, Demko desires to play each night time. However Tocchet has mentioned he received’t overplay his starter within the last days of the season and that backup Collin Delia will get further work. The Canucks have simply 4 video games remaining.

“I’d say that for me, like, I’m on board with no matter plan they’ve,” Demko mentioned post-game. “I’m not a man that’s going to get grouchy over any scenario. I do know that they’ve the perfect curiosity of all the blokes in right here, so on the finish of the day, that’s what I’m going to belief.”

Does Tocchet, as intense as a coach as he was ferocious as a participant, truly suppose Demko may choke him out?

“I’m nearly 60,” Tocchet mentioned. “He may in all probability take me now. However pay attention, he desires to play. Clearly I’m going to handle the minutes, however this was a great sport for him to play. He performed nice.”

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SPEAKING OF COMBAT HOLDS. . .

Quinn Hughes, the Canucks’ highly-skilled Norris Trophy candidate, was assessed a double-minor for roughing with seven minutes remaining when he went after Blackhawk Andreas Athanasiou and took him down with a headlock. The gamers had traded whacks with their sticks earlier than Hughes flew off the turnbuckle.

“Textbook,” teammate Kyle Burroughs noticed of the headlock.

The closest Hughes has come to a battle throughout 4 seasons within the NHL was a skirmish at follow with teammate Dakota Joshua in February, however the five-foot-10 defenceman was clearly upset with Athanasiou.

“You get matched up in opposition to sure guys, and I noticed him two weeks in the past (in Chicago),” Hughes mentioned. “I’m not going to say something unhealthy about him, however I used to be pissed off for positive.”

Hughes was additionally attempting to not smile when he was sitting within the penalty field and getting loudly cheered every time the in-house digital camera went to him after displaying photographs of Athanasiou getting booed.

“I used to be undoubtedly attempting to not smile,” he mentioned. “But it surely sucked to place the workforce shorthanded there.”

The Blackhawk obtained solely a single roughing minor, however Canuck penalty killers went three-for-three in opposition to Chicago’s energy play.

“It was good to see,” Demko mentioned. “I do know the workforce likes seeing that from a man like that, for positive.”

“Hughsie is a aggressive man,” Tocchet mentioned, “so it doesn’t shock me him getting in there and doing that.”

NO TEAM USA

Demko mentioned he has turned down an invite from USA Hockey to signify his nation on the world championships in Might, explaining that his spouse, Lexie, will likely be seven months pregnant with the couple’s first little one.

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VITALI’S VITAL SIGNS

After being a wholesome scratch the final three video games whereas watching current school grad Aidan McDonough take his place within the Vancouver lineup, winger Vitali Kravtsov appeared motivated and engaged when he bought the prospect to play Thursday. The Russian registered 5 hits, received some puck battles and scored his first aim as a Canuck, 15 video games after his deadline commerce from the New York Rangers, when his power-play go went into the Blackhawks’ internet off defenceman Seth Jones within the first interval.

Tocchet has challenged Kravtsov, telling reporters on Wednesday that the 23-year-old has to show he desires to be an NHL participant.

“Nicely, it’s a step in the correct route,” Tocchet mentioned Thursday. “It’s an inch going up, you understand what I imply? (However) the following day, you’ve bought to practise laborious. It’s simply not a one-and-done factor. You’ve bought to do it persistently on this league. You’ve bought to point out it.”

Kravtsov mentioned after the sport that he desires to point out it for the Canucks. He’s a free agent this summer time and will return to the Kontinental Hockey League.

“Laborious to say proper now, however I wish to keep on this workforce on this league,” Kravtsov instructed Sportsnet. “After the season, I’m going to consider it, however the greatest factor proper now could be simply keep right here. I wish to come again. I want to point out I need this.

“I perceive. . . I have to play higher. Each time in small battles, I’ve to win this puck and present my effort. I’ve to play proper (method) and don’t suppose, like, I’m going to cheat and attempt to rating the aim. Play the correct method and assist the workforce to win.”

SWEET 16

Three days after leaving Ohio State College to signal with the Canucks, Cole McWard turned the 16^th defenceman to play for the workforce this season when he logged 14:35 of ice time in opposition to the Blackhawks. The 21-year-old mishandled the puck a few instances, however averted huge errors in his NHL debut and confirmed he can play a sturdy sport.

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Defenceman No. 15, Minnesota State-Mankato grad Akito Hirose, picked up two assists throughout 20:30 of ice time. His glorious stick and intelligent decision-making proceed to impress.

“There’s one thing there,” Tocchet mentioned of McWard. “Like, he’s an enormous child, and he’s going to even get thicker. Proper-handed shot, he’s bought some good talent, there’s one thing there.

“Akito, I appreciated his sport tonight, too. He’s a sensible child. I simply suppose his hockey IQ. . . I’d slightly typically have a mean talent man with excessive hockey IQ than the other. I’m being critical. I’m not saying he’s bought common talent, he’s bought good talent. I’m simply saying he’s bought a very good hockey IQ, so a smaller man like that may survive.”

The Canucks play their last dwelling sport Saturday in opposition to the Calgary Flames earlier than ending their season with a three-game journey subsequent week to Los Angeles, Anaheim and Phoenix.