All-star goalie Thatcher Demko was absent from Vancouver Canucks practice Tuesday, days after suddenly leaving a game.
Demko went directly down the tunnel during a TV timeout in the second period of Vancouver’s 5-0 drubbing of the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.
Backup Casey DeSmith finished out the matchup for the Canucks (42-17-7) and head coach Rick Tocchet declined to speculate about the reason for Thatcher's departure after the game.
Demko "will miss a little bit of time" with the injury he suffered over the weekend, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast on Monday.
But, Friedman added, the injury is not believed to be to Demko's groin.
"I don't know exactly what is going on here but I don't think it's his groin," Friedman said. "From what I understand, it's not disastrous and it's probably even better for Vancouver that they're going to be forced to rest him for a little bit."
Demko, 28, boasts a .917 save percentage, five shutouts and a 2.47 goals-against average this season, a performance that’s helped vault Vancouver to the top of the Western Conference standings.
He earned his league-leading 34th win of the season Saturday and was named one of the NHL’s three stars of the week Monday.
The Canucks will host the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday.
--with files from Sportsnet staff
