The Vancouver Canucks are set to face the Edmonton Oilers for the second time in four days as the two teams battle in Alberta on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday.
After Thatcher Demko left Wednesday's game with the flu, it was unclear who would get the start between the pipes for Saturday's game. Speaking with reports after the game, Tocchet revealed who will get the start - Casey DeSmith.
Tocchet said that the plan was to get DeSmith into either Saturday's game in Edmonton or Tuesday's game in Philadelphia, but because Demko is still not feeling the greatest, they're giving him some extra time off.
"Rick Tocchet confirms Casey DeSmith will get the start tonight, noting that the plan was always to have him play either tonight or in Philadelphia on Tuesday. His thought is might as well give Demko a little extra time to recover (battled a flu bug earlier this week). #Canucks" Team reporter Kate Pettersen said in a post on X.
The Canucks' head coach also gave an update on the status of Carson Soucy, who suffered a lower-body injury in the team's final preseason game on October 6th against the Calgary Flames. Soucy was on the ice with the team on Saturday morning and Tocchet says he is day-to-day with his injury.
Puck drop for tonight's game between the Canucks and Oilers is set for 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET on Sportsnet.