Rick Tocchet Announces Starting Goaltender, Game-Time Decision for Tonight's Game
Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet has announced who will get the start between the pipes tonight against Los Angeles, along with a game-time decision.
The Vancouver Canucks hit the ice at Rogers Arena on Thursday morning as they prepare for a Pacific Division clash with the Los Angeles Kings tonight.
Rick Tocchet's group return to Rogers Arena after a disappointing road trip which saw them win just one of their five games and as they look to turn things around on home ice, the Canucks bench boss announced who will be getting the start against the Kings.
Thatcher Demko announced as starter, Noah Juulsen game-time decision
When meeting with reporters following the team's morning skate, Rick Tocchet announced that Thatcher Demko will be getting the start, his first start since Friday's loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
In eight games this season, Demko has a record of 2-2-3 with a 3.17 goals against average and an .883 save percentage.
Meanwhile on the blue line, it looks like there may be a change as Tocchet shard that Noah Juulsen is "banged up" and is a game-time decision for tonight's contest.
http://x.com/benkuzma/status/1879973730342121718
Projected lineup for tonight's game against the Los Angeles Kings
At the morning skate, we got a good idea of what the Canucks' lines will look like for tonight's game against Los Angeles and Rick Tocchet has shaken things up after Tuesday's loss in Winnipeg.
According to Sportsnet's Brendan Batchelor, Jonathan Lekkerimaki will make the jump from the fourth line to the top line and play with Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk, while Phillip Di Giuseppe moves up to the second line where he'll skate with J.T. MIller and Brock Boeser.
As for the Canucks' third line, that'll be occupied by Danton Heinen, Pius Suter and Conor Garland.
The fourth line will feature Nils Hoglander, Teddy Blueger and the NHL's hits leader this season, Kiefer Sherwood, while it appears that Max Sasson will be sitting out once again.
On defense, Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek will get the majority of the workload tonight as the team's top pairing, with Derek Forbort and Tyler Myers on the second, and Carson Soucy and Vincent Desharnais as the third pair.
DeBrusk. Pettersson. Lekkerimäki.
PDG. Miller. Boeser.
Heinen. Suter. Garland.
Höglander. Blueger. Sherwood.
Sasson.
Hughes. Hronek.
Forbort. Myers.
Soucy. Desharnais.
Brisebois.
(Noah Juulsen is absent)" Batchelor said.
Puck drop for tonight's game against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Arena is set for 7 pm PT on Sportsnet Pacific.
