Canucks: 3 takeaways from 5-1 loss against the Ducks
Demko sluggish after a long break between starts
He needed to get a starter sooner than later, seriously. Demko got his first start in goal since playing the Carolina Hurricanes on February 2nd, 2020 and it wasn’t pretty. He let in five goals against a team that is really struggling to find offence. Simply not good enough if he wants to be trusted to protect the crease over Jacob Markstrom.
More from The Canuck Way
- Which team won the Bo Horvat trade?
- What to expect from newcomers Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Räty
- Back to the future: How the skate uniforms became a regular Canucks’ feature night
- Canucks kick off 2023 with disappointing 6-2 loss to Islanders
- 2nd period penalty trouble sinks Canucks in 4-2 loss against Winnipeg
Can you expect much more from a rookie goaltender when he hasn’t played in over two weeks? Is this more on the goaltender himself? Or does this shed any blame onto the coaching staff mismanaging minutes between netminders? Markstrom has been spectacular and worthy of all the starts he’s had, but the cost is too heavy if the back-up goalie comes in cold against a division rival.
When the playoffs come around, the Canucks can lean on one goalie, but in order to make it to the postseason, the Canucks need to rely on both goalies to get there. It wasn’t his best game, not by a long shot, but the loss was more of an all-around lack of effort. Demko shouldn’t wait long to get his next start. He’ll be sharp and hungry to find a win. It just wasn’t going to happen against the Ducks.
Final thoughts
Next. Micheal Ferland: What his injury means for the Canucks. dark
The Canucks fall out of the top spot in the Pacific Division. They didn’t have the gas left in the tank to remain in first, it showed against the Ducks and Vancouver will need to rebound on Wednesday. The Canucks battle the Minnesota Wild at 730 PM. Hopefully, Brock Boeser can return and help the team find a win. His absence doesn’t go unnoticed.