Making his first start in just over a week, Thatcher Demko’s night ended early Tuesday.
The Vancouver Canucks goaltender played the first period against the Winnipeg Jets but was ruled out and replaced by backup Kevin Lankinen to start the second.
He allowed three goals on eight shots, including two by the Jets in just 15 seconds.
The 29-year-old last played on Nov. 3, a 5-4 overtime win against the Nashville Predators, before missing three games for undisclosed reasons.
Head coach Adam Foote said Friday that Demko was “taking care of himself” due to this season’s condensed schedule but did not indicate whether he was dealing with an injury.
Demko entered the Canucks’ matchup against the Jets with a 5-4-0 record, a .912 save percentage and a 2.57 goals-against average this season.
He missed much of last season with a knee injury, playing just 23 games and posting a 10-8-3 record with a .889 save percentage and a 2.90 goals-against average.
