Canucks Homestand
Vancouver begins a six-game homestand on Friday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets, a team with a .500 record on the season and tied for last place in the Metropolitan Division.
Just prior to their current two-game skid, the improved Jackets reeled off a 6-and-1 stretch. Their position in the standings is a bit of an enigma; their overall goal differential for the season is only minus-3.
Goalies:
Vancouver’s number-one goaltender Thatcher Demko, who’s missed the entire season thus far due to a knee injury, will return and act as the back-up to Kevin Lankinen for the game against Columbus.
“He’s a leader on the team, he’s a different kind of leader, him being around, he’s just a glue guy,” Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said of Demko on Friday morning. “The guy works awfully hard, he’s spent a lot of time by himself working out, he’s here at 7 am working with one trainer, so it’s contagious the hard work he does. I think the young guys see how dedicated he is, I think that really helps our locker room.”
Of course, aside from that, if he’s back and 100%, he’ll help the hockey club win games
To The Max
Young forward Max Sasson will see action in an NHL game for a sixth time. The undrafted 24-year-old from Birmingham, Michigan has tallied two assists in the big show. His head coach will be moving him around on Friday night.
“I think for guys like that it’s sustainability,” Tocchet said after practice Thursday, “but I want to see him at centre. I might put him at centre tomorrow, I’m contemplating it because I think he’s got some speed. I’ve liked pockets of his game, I really have.”
It sounds like Tocchet is sticking to that plan. He’ll still have forward Aatu Raty taking draws on that line.
Puck drop is a few minutes after 7 pm.
