Thatcher Demko injury means Nashville Predators to face new Vancouver Canucks goalie in Game 2

VANCOUVER — The Nashville Predators may have caught a break in their series with the Vancouver Canucks.

Coach Rick Tocchet announced on Tuesday that starting goaltender Thatcher Demko — who made 22 saves in the Canucks' Game 1 win — suffered an injury and will not play in Game 2.

"(Demko) skated yesterday, but he won't play tonight," Tocchet said. Casey DeSmith will be in net for the Canucks in Game 2.

Demko returned from an injury on April 16 after being out for more than a month. Before that, he went 35-14-2 for the Canucks with a .918 save percentage. He was among the leading candidates for the Vezina Trophy, the award given to the league's top goaltender, before leaving the game early against Winnipeg on March 9. Reports followed that he suffered a knee injury in that game.

At the Canucks' morning skate Tuesday, DeSmith was in the starter's net, causing a stir at Rogers Arena. Tocchet confirmed the news, but was hesitant to speculate on when or how the injury to Demko occurred.

"It wasn't the old injury," Tocchet said. "It's a day-to-day thing. It might have been in the game, but he skated (Monday). I don't have an exact timeline, so I don't want to speculate."

With the Predators looking to leave Vancouver with a split in the series, the Canucks forced to go with their backup goaltender is an interesting development. DeSmith went 12-9-6 with an .895 save percentage this season for Vancouver.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Thatcher Demko injury: New Vancouver goalie in Predators-Canucks Game 2