Canucks’ Demko expected to miss 6 weeks with lower-body injury

NHL

Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko is expected to be out until the new year due to a lower-body injury. General manager Patrik Allvin announced Saturday that the 26-year-old American is expected to miss about six weeks.

26-year-old left Thursday’s loss to Florida; Spencer Martin expected to start Saturday

The Canadian Press · Posted: Dec 03, 2022 3:54 PM ET | Last Updated: 3 hours ago

Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko, seen above on Nov. 5, is expected to miss about six weeks after suffering a lower-body injury during the first period of Thursday’s 5-1 loss to the Panthers. The American has a 3-10-2 record over 15 starts this season. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

Vancouver Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko is expected to be out until the new year due to a lower-body injury.

General manager Patrik Allvin announced Saturday that the 26-year-old American is expected to miss about six weeks.

Demko left Thursday’s 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers at the end of the first period, supported by a trainer and teammate Ilya Mikheyev, and was not putting any weight on his right leg as he went off the ice.

It’s been a difficult start to the season for Demko. He’s posted a 3-10-2 record over 15 starts with a 3.93 goals-against average and .883 save percentage.

The Canucks recalled goalie Collin Delia from the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Canucks on Friday under emergency conditions.

Spencer Martin is expected to be in net Saturday when the Canucks (9-12-3) host the Arizona Coyotes.

WATCH | Demko exits game with injury: