Just as the Vancouver Canucks had gotten Thatcher Demko back in the lineup, the goaltender is just as quickly gone again after leaving Tuesday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets due to an injury.
Goaltender Kevin Lankinen is now in net for the #Canucks.
Goaltender Thatcher Demko will not return to tonight’s game.
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) November 12, 2025
Demko sustained the injury at some point of the first period of the game, but played the entirety of the frame before not returning for the second period. The Canucks confirmed his absence at the start of the second period.
While the specifics of Demko’s injury haven’t been confirmed by the Canucks, he was spotted stretching his lower body at points of the first period, so that is believed to be the potential injury. Some think that Demko sustained the injury during this play, a cross-crease save on Cole Perfetti.
Demko left Tuesday’s game stopping only five of eight shots for a .625 save percentage, with the Canucks trailing the Jets 3-2 at the time of his departure. Kevin Lankinen replaced Demko for the second period of the game.
The injury comes in Demko’s first game back after a three-game absence, one which was explained by Demko and the Canucks as maintenance and taking care of the San Diego, California product amidst a condensed schedule due to the Olympic break. Whether that was actually the reason or the team was tiptoeing around an injury is not known at this point, but the fact that Demko got hurt in his first period back does make that more of a possibility.
When healthy, Demko has had a solid season, as he has a 5-4-0 record, a .912 SV% and an 8.26 5v5 goals saved above expected that ranks fourth among all goalies this season. However, health continues to be a concern for him, as he’s missed parts of the last three seasons with injuries.
Should Demko miss any more time, Lankinen will take over the starting goaltender role again, while Jiri Patera, who was on the roster backing Lankinen during Demko’s previous absence, will be the back up again.
