Canucks Holtby without safety net as surprise playoff push begins
Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen discusses where the team is at mentally and physically coming back from their COVID-19 outbreak, still not feeling 100 percent better, but really excited for the grind of a playoff push. | April 26, 2021, 2:45 PM
April 26, 2021, 2:45 PM
The day after the National Hockey League team assigned third-string goalie Mike DiPietro to the American Hockey League, starter Thatcher Demko was injured Monday in the morning skate in Ottawa.
With the Canucks surprisingly back in the playoff race and facing 15 games in 24 days, starting tonight against the Senators, Braden Holtby is now essentially working the Vancouver crease without a safety net. His backup tonight – and for the rest of this week if Demko remains out – is 20-year-old junior hockey grad Arturs Silovs, who played one game this season while on loan to the Manitoba Moose.
Canucks looking to ride emotion of Sunday s win into rematch vs. Leafs
Jimmy Vesey talks about the Canucks getting an emotional win over the Maple Leafs and getting ready to face them again. | April 20, 2021, 4:47 PM
April 20, 2021, 4:47 PM
VANCOUVER – Mental energy is as important to the Vancouver Canucks as their physical energy, which is why the return Tuesday of more players from the COVID-19 list should help maintain the emotional surge the team generated by beating the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday.
Starting goalie Thatcher Demko, still unavailable to the Canucks two days ago, practised Tuesday morning and is expected to back up Braden Holtby in the rematch against the Leafs at Rogers Arena.
1. How will the team recover from COVID?
Vancouver had not only the worst COVID outbreak in the NHL, but one of the worst in pro sports.
The Dallas Stars, Buffalo Sabres, and New Jersey Devils were three of the teams that were hit hardest by COVID-19. The Stars actually won four straight after 17 positive cases forced them to start the season a week late. The Devils won their first two before losing 12 of their next 14 after a two-week layoff.
Buffalo lost 20 of their next 22 games after COVID knocked out almost half of their team. Based on Vancouver’s schedule and the fact that they were rocked harder than any other teams, it’s easy to envision a similarly nightmarish scenario down the stretch drive.