Canucks to return Michael DiPietro to OHL’s Ottawa 67’s

Vancouver Canucks goalie Michael DiPietro. (Darryl Dyck/CP)

The Vancouver Canucks will return goaltender Michael DiPietro to the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s, head coach Travis Green has announced.

Jacob Markstrom will start for the Canucks Wednesday against the Anaheim Ducks, while newly acquired goalie Marek Mazanec will back up.

DiPietro, 19, has been with the Canucks on an emergency recall since Feb. 5 after Thatcher Demko suffered a lower-body injury and the team had no other goalies under NHL contract.

A third-round pick by the Canucks in 2017, DiPietro served as backup to Markstrom for three games, but was forced to make his first career NHL start against the San Jose Sharks on Monday after Markstrom suffered some back spasms. DiPietro got shelled by the Sharks, giving up three goals in the first nine minutes of a 7-2 loss, and on Tuesday the Canucks acquired Mazanec from the New York Rangers to relieve the teenager of his emergency recall.

Markstrom has been an important part of the Canucks’ strong play this season. The 29-year-old has a 21-15-6 record with a 2.81 goals-against average and .910 save percentage.

Mazanec has yet to appear in an NHL game this season. In 20 games with the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack, he has a 7-8-4 record with a 3.01 goals-against average and .903 save percentage.

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