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Vancouver Canucks News

Demko will start vs. Buffalo on Thursday.

Demko has been sidelined for several weeks with a lower-body injury, but will return to the crease on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres, marking his first appearance between the pipes since November 11th. The Canucks were a modest 8-8-1 before Demko's injury, but struggled without him, going 3-8-2 in 13 games. The 29-year-old Demko has a 2.80 GAA and .903 SV% in 10 games (5-4-0) this season, but has battled injury adversity over the past few seasons and will likely be eased back in a starting workload. The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as -101 home underdogs against a Sabres team that snapped a three-game losing skid on Tuesday in a 4-3 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers.

Thatcher Demko
Boeser (undisclosed) is a game-time decision vs. Buffalo on Thursday.

The Canucks, already expected to be without Elias Pettersson (upper body), will take a major blow to their offensive prowess if Boeser is not able to suit up on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres. The 28-year-old Boeser has 16 points (9G / 7A) in 28 games this season, but has been held off the scoresheet in eight of his last 10 games.

Brock Boeser
Demko was the first goalie off the ice at Vancouver's morning skate.

Demko has been sidelined for several weeks with a lower-body injury, but will return to the crease on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres, marking his first appearance between the pipes since November 11th. The Canucks were a modest 8-8-1 before Demko's injury, but struggled without him, going 3-8-2 in 13 games. The 29-year-old Demko has a 2.80 GAA and .903 SV% in 10 games (5-4-0) this season, but has battled injury adversity over the past few seasons and will likely be eased back in a starting workload. The Canucks enter Thursday's contest as -101 home underdogs against a Sabres team that snapped a three-game losing skid on Tuesday in a 4-3 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers.

Thatcher Demko
Pettersson (upper-body) will travel with Vancouver on their upcoming road trip but is unlikely to play vs. Buffalo on Thursday.

Pettersson participated in warmups on Saturday but was unable to play and has missed two straight games. It is unlikely he will play on Thursday, but his injury does not appear to be long-term, and he aims to return to the lineup on the Canucks' upcoming five-game road trip. The 27-year-old Pettersson was having a semi-resurgent season before his injury, with 22 points (8G / 14A) in 28 games.

Elias Pettersson
Demko (lower-body) is ready to return vs. Buffalo on Thursday.

Demko has been sidelined for several weeks with a lower-body injury and if he returns to the crease on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres, it would mark his first appearance between the pipes since November 11th. The 29-year-old Demko has battled adversity with injuries over the past several seasons and will likely be eased back into action upon his return. He has a 2.80 GAA and .903 SV% in 10 games (5-4-0) this season.

Thatcher Demko
Pettersson (upper-body) is hoping to practice with the Canucks on Wednesday.

Pettersson participated in warmups on Saturday but was unable to play and has missed two straight games. He was reevaluated, and the indications are that the results were promising, as he aims to return to practice on Wednesday. The 27-year-old Pettersson was having a semi-resurgent season, with 22 points (8G / 14A) in 28 games.

Elias Pettersson
Pettersson (upper-body) will remain out vs. Detroit on Monday and is being further evaluated.

Pettersson participated in warmups on Saturday, but was unable to play, and will remain out of the lineup on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 27-year-old Pettersson was having a semi resurgent season, with 22 points (8G / 14A) in 28 games.

Elias Pettersson
Lankinen will start vs. Detroit on Monday.

The Canucks are coming off an impressive 4-2 win over the red-hot Minnesota Wild, courtesy of a 28-save performance (.933 SV%) by Nikita Tolopilo, but they will revert to Lankinen between the pipes on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 30-year-old Lankinen last played on Friday, allowing three goals on 17 shots (.824 SV%), in a 4-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth. He has an uninspiring 3.41 GAA and .881 SV% in 16 games this season (4-9-3). The Canucks enter Monday's contest as +105 home underdogs against a Red Wings team that has been miserable defensively, allowing 41 goals (4.6 GA / GP) in their last nine games (3-4-2).

Kevin Lankinen
Hoglander (lower-body) will make his season debut vs. Minnesota.

Hoglander underwent lower-body surgery towards the end of training camp and will finally make his season debut on Monday against the Minnesota Wild. The 24-year-old should return to his usual bottom-six role this season after an eight-goal, 25-point campaign across 72 games played in 2024-25.

Nils Hoglander
Lankinen is expected to start vs. Detroit on Monday.

The Canucks are coming off an impressive 4-2 win over the red-hot Minnesota Wild, courtesy of a 28-save performance (.933 SV%) by Nikita Tolopilo, but they will revert to Lankinen between the pipes on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. The 30-year-old Lankinen last played on Friday, allowing three goals on 17 shots (.824 SV%), in a 4-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth. He has an uninspiring 3.41 GAA and .881 SV% in 16 games this season (4-9-3). The Canucks enter Monday's contest as +105 home underdogs against a Red Wings team that has been miserable defensively, allowing 41 goals (4.6 GA / GP) in their last nine games (3-4-2).

Kevin Lankinen
Lankinen will start vs. Utah on Friday.

The Canucks are in a miserable 2-6-2 stretch and find themselves in last place in the NHL, hoping to return to the win column on Friday with Lankinen tending the twine against the Utah Mammoth. The 32-year-old Lankinen has strung together consecutive quality starts, saving 49 of 54 combined shots (.907 SV%), but has not been able to record a victory, going 0-1-1. The Canucks enter Friday's contest as +111 home underdogs against a Mammoth team going off a massive 7-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks.

Kevin Lankinen
Lankinen was the first goalie off the ice at Vancouver's morning skate.

The Canucks are in a miserable 2-6-2 stretch and find themselves in last place in the NHL, hoping to return to the win column on Friday with Lankinen tending the twine against the Utah Mammoth. The 32-year-old Lankinen has strung together consecutive quality starts, saving 49 of 54 combined shots (.907 SV%), but has not been able to record a victory, going 0-1-1. The Canucks enter Friday's contest as +111 home underdogs against a Mammoth team going off a massive 7-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks.

Kevin Lankinen
Demko (lower-body) is a possibility to return vs. Buffalo next Thursday.

Demko has not played since November 11th and was originally given a two-to-three-week recovery timeline. If he returns to action next Thursday, it will mark over four weeks, but it would still be encouraging considering Demko's injury history and the concerns that follow him. The 29-year-old Demko has a 2.80 GAA and .903 SV% in 10 games (5-4-0) and will likely be eased into action upon his return.

Thatcher Demko