Canucks: Thatcher Demko sidelined by injury, Spencer Martin gets crease call


‘His three games (in January) were amazing and he held us in every game against good competition (Florida, Edmonton and Winnipeg). We feel very confident with him in the net.’ —Bruce Boudreau on Spencer Martin

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Bruce Boudreau called it “a little bit of an ouch” on Tuesday morning.

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It was a complimentary way for the Vancouver Canucks coach to frame a day-to-day injury to the heavily taxed Thatcher Demko — who has obviously been playing through some level of discomfort — because the bench boss knows how hard his starter practices and plays.

The bigger picture is one of physical and mental strain on the workhorse, who has logged a career-high 64 appearances this season, to keep his club in the NHL playoff conversation.

And that can invite stiffness, soreness or a strain on a stopper who has exhibited quick post-to-post movements and crazy scrambles in crease scrums to corral loose pucks.

It has led to Demko posting a personal-best 2.72 goals against average at the NHL level this season and match a career .915 save percentage established last season. And in eclipsing the 30-win plateau with 33 victories — all while looking somewhat fatigued in his last seven starts in which he went 4-2-1 — he made a statement of drive and durability.

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In Demko’s absence, Spencer Martin got the call to face the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday at Rogers Arena, while Arturs Silovs was summoned from the AHL affiliate on an emergency basis.

As for the 26-year-old Demko, let’s put it this way: Luke Schenn is a deserving nomination for the Masterton Trophy by the manner in which the veteran defenseman has met the award criteria of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication. Demko was second in voting by the local chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. He could also be named the club’s most valuable player.

However, his season could be done with just three games left and playoff hopes hanging by a thread.

“He’s being evaluated,” said Boudreau, who saw in January what Martin could do with Demko and Jaroslav Halak in COVID-19 protocol.

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Martin, 26, signed a two-year, $US1.525 million extension earlier this month, and went 1-0-2 with a 1.59 GAA and a .985 save percentage. He could play in the final three regular-season games, depending on the Canucks’ playoff fate and Demko’s health.

“His three games were amazing and he held us in every game against good competition (Florida, Edmonton and Winnipeg) and we feel very confident with him in the net,” said Boudreau. “Hopefully, he feels comfortable coming back and wanting to show that he’s ready to play in the NHL next season.

“It (January) was a small sample size, but the more games he gets here, it all adds up. And if he can keep the same numbers, that’s pretty good.”

Three months ago, Martin was just elated to get another chance with an organization after logging three games with Colorado in 2016-17. He was a 2013 third-round pick of the Avalanche and brought into Abbotsford as the fifth organization stopper, but he was far down the pecking order.

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It took a month before he even got an AHL start this season and he has responded with a 19-4-2 record, 2.43 GAA and .914 save percentage.

“You never know and you don’t take it for granted,” Martin told Postmedia News. “I got a chance when I was really young to play some games. I’m just balancing the excitement with the business of playing well.”

Boudreau has made it a mission to get to know both the player and the person on his roster since taking over the bench on Dec. 6. However, goalies are cut from a different cloth and they can be quirky and very set in their practice habits and game preparation.

As for Martin, it’s a different approach for the coach.

“Goalies are real different,” chuckled Boudreau. “I haven’t got to know him as well as if he was here for a long time, but I’ve talked to him. I leave most of that up to the goalie coach (Ian Clark) and he takes what I say and does more communication with him (Martin) than I would.”

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OVERTIME: Boudreau said unrestricted free agent Halak (hand) is “probably not” an option this week because he hasn’t been on the ice for a week. He added that winger Tanner Pearson (wrist) is “not necessarily” done for the season and gets another X-ray on Thursday to determine his playing status if the club is still alive. Boudreau didn’t think Bo Horvat has progressed far enough from a lower-leg hairline fracture to be a roster consideration, especially after not skating for two weeks. Defenseman Tucker Poolman (migraine headaches) has been placed on a long-term injury reserve.

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