The Vancouver Canucks may have Thatcher Demko back in action as they aim to improve their performance at home against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.
While the Canucks have an impressive 10-2-1 record on the road, their home performance has been weaker, with a 4-6-3 record. Only the Chicago Blackhawks (eight) and Utah Hockey Club (10) have earned fewer home points than the Canucks’ 11 points at home this season.
The first two games of the Canucks’ current six-game homestand have shown their struggle to maintain consistency at home. Vancouver won 5-2 against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday but lost 4-2 to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday after a late collapse.
With the game tied 2-2 in the third period, a miscommunication led to a penalty for too many men on the ice, and Jake Guentzel scored on the ensuing power play to give the Lightning the lead.
The Canucks failed to convert on their three power-play opportunities, while the Lightning scored twice on four chances.
“Special teams won the game for them…I thought five-on-five we were fine,” said Canucks coach Rick Tocchet. “Just obviously unfortunate, can’t have that too-many-men penalty.”
Demko’s return from a knee injury could be a boost for the Canucks. He hasn’t played since the Stanley Cup playoffs in late April but has been the backup goaltender in Vancouver’s last two games without seeing action.
Rather than putting Demko in net against high-scoring teams like the Lightning or the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, Tocchet may choose to ease him back into play against St. Louis, whose offense ranks near the bottom of the NHL in goals (72) and shots per game (26.9).
The Blues had a five-game point streak (4-0-1) before a 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. It was their first regulation loss since Jim Montgomery became the team’s coach.
Down 3-0 after two periods, St. Louis pushed back in the third, narrowing the score to 3-2, but Troy Stecher scored for the Oilers just 69 seconds after the Blues’ second goal to stop their comeback.
“We played a little bit too passive in the first two periods,” Blues forward Dylan Holloway said. “Third period we kind of had a push and the push was good, but just not enough, a little too late.”
Jordan Binnington allowed four goals on 21 shots, continuing an inconsistent season. He is expected to start again on Tuesday.
Quinn Hughes has been outstanding for the Canucks, leading the team with 32 points (seven goals, 25 assists). He’s currently on a seven-game point streak, with 13 of those points (three goals, 10 assists) coming during that stretch.
Holloway has nine points (five goals, four assists) during a six-game point streak, and Jordan Kyrou leads the Blues with 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists).
