Canucks Game Day: Thatcher Demko looks to equal Luongo record (2024)

Winnipeg Jets (32-14-5) vs. Vancouver Canucks (37-12-6)

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When and where: Saturday, 7 p.m., Rogers Arena

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TV: Hockey Night in Canada Radio:Sportsnet 650

The buzz:Quinn Hughes’ season has been so remarkable he is setting records that have him in the company of names like Orr and Coffey. Now, Thatcher Demko is entering the same territory, achieving things that put him alongside an all-time goalie great. On Thursday, he set a Canucks team record, getting to 30 wins in just 40 games, eclipsing Roberto Luongo’s all-time team mark. Tonight, he is gunning for his 11th-straight home win, which would equal Luongo’s all-time Canucks standard, set in 2009.

The history: These two teams haven’t faced each other yet this season, but they’ll play two more times down the stretch. A month ago, this was setting up as a clash for best in the west, but the Jets have stumbled and now sit third in the Central Division, while the Canucks remain atop the Pacific. The Jets swept the season series last year, but all three games were under Bruce Boudreau’s direction, not Rick Tocchet’s. That said, Winnipeg has a better goals-for percentage than the Canucks do this season at five-on-five. Winnipeg is No. 1 by this metric, Vancouver is No. 2.

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The hope:The Canucks’ play hasn’t always been pretty of late, but it’s hard to argue with the overall results. In general, the Canucks are outshooting the opposition night in, night out, and those shots are also of a better quality than the opposition. Most nights they’re finding a way to win. Obviously they will lean on their staples — hard forechecking, smart reads off the puck, quick passing, disciplined defending — to best a defensively-stout Winnipeg squad.

The fear: The Jets have Connor Hellebuyck in goal. He’s always ready to steal a game. The Canucks’ potent offence might not find enough ways to beat him and the strong defensive system Rick Bowness has established in front of him.

The top guns:Elias Pettersson is now the fifth-leading scorer in the NHL. It hasn’t been the smoothest of sailing lately, but he has seven points in four games and now is aligned with Elias Lindholm — four goals in six games as a Canuck — and Nils Höglander — three goals in four games on Pettersson’s wing — and the trio has the makings of a very potent line. Winnipeg added two-way stud Sean Monahan in a trade, boosting depth to a group of forwards lead by Mark Scheifele. Kyle Connor and Nikolaj Ehlers are potent threats as always.

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The wounded: Canucks: Dakota Joshua (hand, indefinite), Carson Soucy (broken hand, six to eight weeks), Guillaume Brisebois (concussion, indefinite). Jets: no injuries at present.

The quote: “We want to push the pace, but we know there might not be a lot for the first 30 minutes and you know, you’ve heard me say this: don’t get antsy. We can’t get antsy.” — Rick Tocchet on the key to facing a tough defensive outfit like Winnipeg.

The lineup:

Forwards

Suter-Miller-Boeser

Höglander-Pettersson-Lindholm

Mikheyev-Blueger-Garland

Di Giuseppe-Åman-Lafferty

Defence

Hughes-Hronek

Cole-Juulsen

Zadorov-Myers

Goalie

Thatcher Demko

The prediction: The Canucks love home ice. This one will be tight though. The Canucks are going to win 3-2.

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(FAN FORUM: Do you have a specific question for a player? Pass it along to @provincesports and we’ll get it in a future edition.)

pjohnston@postmedia.com

twitter.com/risingaction

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