Vancouver Canucks all-star goaltender Thatcher Demko left the game against the Winnipeg Jets just under halfway through the second period and was replaced by backup Casey DeSmith.
He was able to skate off the ice on his own and headed to the dressing room during a T.V. timeout. The Canucks did not provide a reason as to why he left except to say he would not return.
After the game, Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet was asked about his goaltender’s injury.
“I don’t think it’s too serious, but I don’t know,” Tocchet told reporters.
Tocchet also said he hadn’t talked to the team’s doctors, so he didn’t want to speculate on Demko’s status.
He made a number of quality saves on the Jets en route to the Canucks’ 4-0 lead, including a point-blank save on Vladislav Namestnikov to keep the game scoreless in the second period.
Continually one of the best players on the ice, Demko has played a major part in the Canucks’ success this season with a .916 save percentage and a 2.49 goals-against average with a league-leading 33 wins in 48 games.