Canucks: 10 things we learned from the first 10 games

The Vancouver Canucks have already played ten games of the 2021-22 NHL season and like the Sonic the Hedgehog video games, it has been full of ups and downs.

Through ten games the Canucks sit at a 4-5-1 record and finally got their first win at home in a thrilling 3-2 overtime win over the New York Rangers. That put an end to a three-game losing streak.

There has been some good and some bad that has come out of the Canucks season so far.

It hasn’t been a spectacular start to the season and it hasn’t been a horrible start to the season either.

Let’s take a look at the highlights and lowlights of Vancouver’s first ten games and see what we learned.

1. Thatcher Demko looking like the Canucks MVP

Thatcher Demko put up stellar performances in the bubble against the Vegas Golden Knights and in March of last season before the COVID-19 outbreak derailed things.

It is Demko’s first full season as a starter after being the backup to Jacob Markstrom and sharing the crease with Braden Holtby.

So far, he has impressed. The San Diego native is an early front runner for team MVP.

Demko has made some incredible saves and has helped the Canucks stay close in games where they were being outplayed.

Against the Rangers, he made his best save as a Canuck to date.

With New York threatening on the power play, Artemi Panarin tried to beat Demko who was without his blocker and stick. Demko made the save with his leg. Potential save of the year right here.

It looks like Thatcher Demko is proving that he can handle being the number one and he will start to emerge as one of the top netminders in the NHL.