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There was a lot of buzz Tuesday after a report from Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff suggested Thatcher Demko could still play a role in the Vancouver Canucks’ Pacific Division final series against the Edmonton Oilers, which begins Wednesday night at Rogers Arena.
Seravalli suggested there was a possibility Demko could be back by Game 5, but “that’s probably pushing it.”
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To be clear, Game 5 is scheduled to be played on May 16, just over a week away.
Game 6 – scheduled for May 18 – or Game 7, scheduled for May 20, “gets interesting,” Seravalli added.
Of course, this is consistent with Postmedia’s report two weeks ago, in which we suggested there was a small chance of a return to action for the Canucks’ No. 1 goaltender at the end of this round , even though it was very likely that he would not. ready until the conference finals.
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After checking with sources, it is clear that the conference final remains the most likely.
Demko always skates alone. He was seen late in recent practices taking the ice as his teammates left the ice.
He didn’t do so Tuesday, when the Canucks held a full practice at Rogers Arena, although he is believed to have skated earlier in the day. The limited movement drills he performed do not indicate that a goaltender is terribly close to a comeback.
Checking sources, it remains difficult to see Demko really ready to return for Game 6 or 7, but again, it’s not impossible. That would be a bit of a call for despair, with these games spanning just over three weeks since the initial injury… but apparently not far off the previously reported estimate, which said he would be out for around four weeks, plus or less.
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