Canucks' Halak to miss road trip with upper-body injury

Thatcher Demko is on the ice to start the second period, as Jaroslav Halak left during the first intermission due to a right-hand injury.

The Vancouver Canucks gave Jaroslav Halak a rare start Tuesday to give Thatcher Demko some rest on the second night of a back-to-back, but that strategy only lasted one period.

Halak was forced to leave the game against the Ottawa Senators in the first intermission and Demko replaced him in the net. After the game, a 4-3 shootout loss, head coach Bruce Boudreau said Halak has an upper-body injury and would not be travelling with the team on it's upcoming road trip.

Goaltender Spencer Martin was recalled on an emergency basis before the game, leading to some speculation that one of the other goalies was unfit to dress, but Martin was returned to AHL Abbotsford before the game. He will likely back up Demko until Halak is fit to return to game action.

Tuesday was just Halak's second start in the month of April as the Canucks make a frantic final dash to the playoffs. In 16 starts entering Tuesday, Halak had a .899 save percentage and a 4-7-2 record.

The Canucks have five more games remaining on their schedule after Tuesday's loss, beginning Thursday in Minnesota.

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