VANCOUVER - A couple of key players could soon be back in the Vancouver Canucks' lineup as the team prepares for the post-season.
All-star goalie Thatcher Demko and forward Elias Lindholm were both on the ice for practice Tuesday, although Demko left before the session ended.
Head coach Rick Tocchet said the Canucks (48-22-8) have a plan for getting the 28-year-old American goalie back into a game and the plan included a "good, full practice for him with limitations" on Tuesday.
鈥淲e鈥檙e really going day to day," Tocchet said. "We had a good day today, we鈥檒l see how it goes tomorrow.鈥
Demko was sidelined by a lower-body injury midway through Vancouver's 5-0 win over the Winnipeg Jets on March 9 and has missed 12 games.
Despite the absence, he remains tied with Igor Shesterkin of the New York Rangers for most wins this season (34).
Demko has been a vital part of Vancouver's success this season. He boasts a 34-13-2 record with a .917 save percentage and 2.47 goals-against average, and has recorded five shutouts.
The Canucks have gone 6-5-1 without the netminder, with Casey DeSmith taking much of the workload.
Vancouver remains atop the Pacific Division standings, five points up on the Edmonton Oilers, and was the first 春色直播 team to clinch a playoff spot.
The coaching staff will continue to ramp up Demko's workload as they prepare him for game action, Tocchet said. He did not comment on when they expect the goaltender to get back into a game.
Meanwhile, Tocchet said Lindholm is "getting close" and may play Wednesday when the Canucks host the Arizona Coyotes.
The 29-year-old Swedish forward has been out since March 23, but his upper-body injury goes back further than that.
鈥淥bviously in my case, I was trying to battle through it. Just couldn鈥檛 do it anymore," Lindholm said Tuesday. "It was a good time to let it heal. And hopefully get back on the ice pretty soon.鈥
The Canucks picked up Lindholm from the Flames in a blockbuster trade on Jan. 31. The deal saw Vancouver send Calgary a first-round pick in this year鈥檚 draft, a conditional fourth-round selection, winger Andrei Kuzmenko and a pair of defensive prospects.
Lindholm has struggled since joining the Canucks, however, registering five goals and four assists in 22 games.
He's hoping to make a bigger impact when he returns to the ice.
鈥淚 obviously came here to do something good in the playoffs. And obviously so far in the regular season, it hasn鈥檛 worked out. So I鈥檓 pretty excited to get this thing going," he said.
"I鈥檓 motivated, I feel good and confident, so hopefully I can be back playing soon, play a couple games and get going and be ready.鈥
This report by 春色直播was first published April 9, 2024.
