In a surprise move on Wednesday, the Vancouver Canucks have placed Thatcher Demko on LTIR retroactive to March 9th for some cap relief. The 28-year-old is first eligible to return on April 6th, so he has the potential to return before the playoffs begin on April 20th. He was one of the league's top goaltenders when he went down with injury, noticeable by his 34-13-2 record, 2.47 GAA, .917 SV% and five shutouts.
Patera will get the nod for the tail-end of the Golden Knights' back-to-back on Tuesday after Logan Thompson secured a 2-1 win in St. Louis on Monday. Patera has made just five appearances for the Golden Knights this season, with his most recent being a 3-0 shutout loss in Colorado on January 10th. He owns a 1-3-0 record and a .901 SV% on the year. He draws a difficult matchup on Tuesday with the Golden Knights being +120 underdogs in Nashville.
Lekkerimaki was the 15th overall pick of the Canucks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and will make his professional North American debut in the AHL with the Abbotsford Canucks. In 46 games with Orebro HK of the Swedish Hockey League, Lekkerimaki had 31 points (19G / 21A) in 46 games this season.
Ian Cole will be a healthy scratch on Thursday, allowing Juulsen to re-enter the lineup. Juulsen has not played the last two games for the Canucks and had only one point (0G / 1A) in 10 games before he departed from the lineup.
The red-hot Predators, riding a 13-0-2 point streak in their last 15 games, will turn to Lankinen between the pipes for only the second time in the last 10 games. Lankien has been solid when called upon, including a 2-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets in his last outing, when he saved 33 of 34 shots (.971 SV%). The Predators enter action as +159 road underdogs against the Florida Panthers.
Smith was the third-round pick of the Coyotes in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and has played 14 career NHL games but has yet to suit up with the Coyotes this season. In 48 games with the Tuscon Roadrunners, he has 27 points (9G / 18A).
Phil Di Giuseppe will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Aman to re-enter the lineup for the first time since February 27th. Aman has six points (2G / 4A) while averaging 10:24 time-on-ice through 35 games this season.
Smith was the third-round pick of the Coyotes in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and has played 14 career NHL games but has yet to suit up with the Coyotes this season. In 48 games with the Tuscon Roadrunners, he has 27 points (9G / 18A).
Myers has been out since February 29th due to a lower-body injury but was a full participant in Tuesday's practice and is expected to return on Saturday against the Washington Capitals. The 34-year-old towering defender will make a welcome return as he has enjoyed a strong fifth season in Vancouver with four goals, 23 points, 67 SOG, 63 PIMs and a +12 plus/minus through 62 games played before his injury.
O'Connor has missed the last three games due to a concussion but will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators. The 25-year-old O'Connor has 21 points (9G / 12A) in 60 games this season.
Myers has been out since February 29th due to a lower-body injury but was a full participant in Tuesday's practice and is expected to return in one of the Canucks' next two games (COL or WSH). The 34-year-old towering defender will make a welcome return as he has enjoyed a strong fifth season in Vancouver with four goals, 23 points, 67 SOG, 63 PIMs and a +12 plus/minus through 62 games played before his injury.
Joshua hurt his hand in a fight on February 13th against Chicago and has not played since. The 27-year-old had been enjoying a breakout season in his fourth year in the NHL, with 13 goals, 26 points, 69 SOG, 46 PIMs and +16 plus/minus in 53 games before his injury.
With Thatcher Demko sidelined for the next few weeks, Vancouver recalled Silovs from Abbotsford (AHL). Silovs played five games in Vancouver last season but has spent the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign with Abbotsford, posting a 2.74 GAA and .907 SV% in 33 games (15-11-6). The 22-year-old Silovs is unlikely to see much, if any, action with Vancouver and will likely serve exclusively as Casey DeSmith's backup.
O'Connor has missed the last three games due to a concussion but could return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators. The 25-year-old O'Connor has 21 points (9G / 12A) in 60 games this season.
Demko exited Saturday's 5-0 victory over the Winnipeg Jets in the second period with a knee injury and did not return to the contest. While further evaluations have ensured it is not a long-term injury, Demko is expected to miss several games as his initial prognosis is 2-3 weeks. Expect Case DeSmith to tend the twine in Demko's absence.
