Canucks: Will return of motivated, reflective Thatcher Demko help steady listing ship?

There’s a lot that Thatcher Demko can control.

The Vancouver Canucks’ starting goaltender is meticulous with practice habits and has a Zen-like devotion to ensure every piece of equipment is prepared for what awaits in the heat of battle. It’s always a good idea to not invade his locker room space when he’s in that zone.

And, make no mistake, it’s all designed to help get the job because he always wants the net.

What Demko can’t control is a condensed schedule that has taxed players, produced a plethora of injuries, and places an extra burden on goaltenders in an NHL game being played at a lightning pace. They need to remain ready, but rest and recovery have become as vital as honing their games to a sharp edge.

And so is playing less games, which had been a tough sell to Demko.

However, missing a dozen games with a Nov. 11 groin strain was another reminder to the starter of position challenges — stretching and straining for post-to-post movements to seal up the short side, tracking pucks, tips and deflections, plus crease-crashing traffic — to ensure he is doing everything to avoid another setback.

It is also why Demko showed another side Tuesday following an encouraging practice that has him poised to face the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday at Rogers Arena. He sounded convinced of his readiness, but the human side of the profession being put on hold rang through.

“I know there’s a narrative around the whole (injury) situation, but any guy can have a great summer and get hurt,” reasoned Demko. “I was sitting there and pretty much beating myself up for a week. You feel guilty, feel bummed out, and pissed off, and all those things.

“That’s part of the game. I can only control so much at the end of the day. I know I’m doing the right things preparation wise, education wise, and I have a great team that surrounds me and makes sure I’m ready to play. I feel it the most when things don’t turn out the way we want.”

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Demko was in an early conversation to be in the Team USA goaltending triumvirate for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

“It’s not what I’m thinking about. I’m trying to be there for my teammates,” said Demko. “I’m certainly not trying to get back into the lineup to make the Olympic team.”

However, Demko is in the spotlight for attempting to do the unthinkable — help backstop the league’s last-place team, which has surrendered the most goals and has the worst home-ice mark, to the postseason. It’s not impossible, but not probable.

The St. Louis Blues went from worst in January to Stanley Cup champions in 2019, but there was no crazy condensed schedule back then, or a lengthy injury list. The Canucks had nine players out at one point this season.

“The whole league has probably been cognizant of it the whole year,” Demko said of the schedule. “It’s been wild, quite frankly. It’s tough on guys and tough on families. There is no sugar-coating, and the coaching staff is aware. We knew in the summer when there were discussions that (rest and recovery) was something you’d have to consider.”

The Canucks open a five-game, nine-day road trip Sunday with a nooner in New Jersey. It includes back-to-back games, so the opportunity for back-up Kevin Lankinen to find his form is vital after allowing three goals on 13 shots Monday after being pulled following two periods in favour of Nikita Tolopilo.

But all eyes will be on Demko on Thursday, and especially during the road trip.

“It’s the urgency to get back,” he said of helping to steady a listing ship. “You’d rather be in there losing with them, and some of the bounces and things are getting old. Especially as a spectator. If a team is going to go through rough patches, you want to be a part of that — whether you’re winning or losing. There’s nothing worse than sitting out.”

Demko said he didn’t have to alter anything in his rehab from the groin strain and called it “pretty standard stuff”.

“We knew exactly what was going on and it was a minor tweak and pretty much just had to give it time and get the reps,” said Demko. “We’ve done that and I’m excited. You’ve got to be healthy to do that and I want to be impactful on a consistent basis.”

Demko has been down this motivation road before.

In February of 2023 at Dallas, he returned from missing 35 games with a groin strain to backstop a wild 5-4 overtime win. His 34-save performance included facing four breakaways against the Central Division leaders in the first period because the depleted Canucks’ back end included three American Hockey League regulars.

In the second period, the Stars had four-consecutive power plays and a 20-3 shot advantage.

OVERTIME — Canucks head coach Adam Foote suggested Tuesday that injured centre Elias Pettersson could practise Wednesday. He has an upper-body ailment, but his progress is encouraging. “I talked to him this morning and he felt better. It’s good news. A big step and he should practise tomorrow.”

bkuzma@postmedia.com