Confirmed: Vancouver Canucks Goaltender Thatcher Demko Officially Returns for Tonight's Game

Get excited Vancouver Canucks fans as for the first time since Game 1 of their first-round series against the Nashville Predators, Thatcher Demko will be in uniform.

When meeting with reporters on Friday, Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet revealed that Kevin Lankinen, who was recently selected to Finland's 4 Nations Face-Off roster will get the start between the pipes.

Meanwhile, instead of Arturs Silovs backing him up, Rick Tocchet confirmed that Thatcher Demko will serve as the back-up to Kevin Lankinen.

Demko, 28, suffered a pair of knee injuries last season, the first coming in the latter stages of the regular season, while the other came during Game 1 against the Nashville Predators.

Reports suggested that the injury he was dealing with was related to his Popliteus, a triangle-shaped muscle behind the back of the knee that's attached to the femur and tibia.

After months of rehabbing the injury and finally getting back on the ice with the team, taking shots and ramping up, Thatcher Demko is finally ready to return to game action.

The San Diego native is coming off the best season of his National Hockey League career where he posted a record of 35-14-2 with a 2.45 goals against average, a .918 save percentage and five shutouts.

We'll have to wait and see if Thatcher Demko is an option to start for Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but if he is, that would be a major boost for the Vancouver Canucks.

Puck drop for tonight's game at Rogers Arena against the Columbus Blue Jackets is set for 7 pm PT and can be watched in the Vancouver area on Sportsnet Pacific.