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

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

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

Demko confirmed Thursday he wouldn’t, beneath any circumstances, need to interact Tocchet in blended martial arts. However then, he doesn’t need to 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 Area 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 severe 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 recreation 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 stated. “It appeared like nothing would get by him.

“I knew, clearly, he was a high 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 damage, Demko desires to play each night time. However Tocchet has stated he gained’t overplay his starter within the remaining days of the season and that backup Collin Delia will get further work. The Canucks have simply 4 video games remaining.

“I might say that for me, like, I’m on board with no matter plan they’ve,” Demko stated post-game. “I’m not a man that’s going to get grouchy over any scenario. I do know that they’ve one of the best curiosity of all the fellows 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 assume Demko might choke him out?

“I’m nearly 60,” Tocchet stated. “He might 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 recreation 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 struggle throughout 4 seasons within the NHL was a skirmish at apply 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 stated. “I’m not going to say something dangerous about him, however I used to be pissed off for certain.”

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

“I used to be positively attempting to not smile,” he stated. “But it surely sucked to place the group shorthanded there.”

The Blackhawk acquired 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 stated. “I do know the group likes seeing that from a man like that, for certain.”

“Hughsie is a aggressive man,” Tocchet stated, “so it doesn’t shock me him moving into there and doing that.”

NO TEAM USA

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

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VITALI’S VITAL SIGNS

After being a wholesome scratch the final three video games whereas watching latest faculty grad Aidan McDonough take his place within the Vancouver lineup, winger Vitali Kravtsov appeared motivated and engaged when he received the possibility to play Thursday. The Russian registered 5 hits, gained some puck battles and scored his first purpose 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. 

“Properly, it’s a step in the fitting route,” Tocchet stated Thursday. “It’s an inch going up, what I imply? (However) the following day, you’ve received to practise laborious. It’s simply not a one-and-done factor. You’ve received to do it persistently on this league. You’ve received to indicate it.”

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

“Onerous to say proper now, however I need to keep on this group on this league,” Kravtsov informed Sportsnet. “After the season, I’m going to consider it, however the largest factor proper now could be simply keep right here. I need to come again. I want to indicate I need this.

“I perceive. . . I must play higher. Each time in small battles, I’ve to win this puck and present my effort. I’ve to play proper (means) and don’t assume, like, I’m going to cheat and attempt to rating the purpose. Play the fitting means and assist the group 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 group 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 prevented huge errors in his NHL debut and confirmed he can play a sturdy recreation.

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

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

“Akito, I appreciated his recreation tonight, too. He’s a wise child. I simply assume his hockey IQ. . . I’d reasonably generally have a median ability man with excessive hockey IQ than the other. I’m being severe. I’m not saying he’s received common ability, he’s received good ability. I’m simply saying he’s received a extremely good hockey IQ, so a smaller man like that may survive.”

The Canucks play their remaining residence recreation 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.

Extra from Sportsnet

‘You can’t mail it in’: Canucks’ Tocchet using last games to evaluate for next season

Canucks’ compete level questioned by Tocchet after falling flat vs. Kraken

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