Thatcher Demko had a tough night against the Minnesota Wild — and so did the rest of his team
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In the end, it’s hard to win when you score just two goals. And it’s also hard when you’re missing a pile of NHL regulars. And then it’s a challenge when your goalie isn’t on his game.
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This all added up to a 5-2 win for the Minnesota Wild over the Vancouver Canucks, a game that most Canadians were not paying attention to on Saturday given it was also Game 7 of an epic World Series.
Even if the Blue Jays weren’t playing for the title, probably not many would have paid attention anyway given the light lineup the Canucks have been forced to dress because of their injuries, plus their ongoing status as one of the NHL’s most middling clubs. There’s just no zip to this team.
Anyway, they lost on Saturday because they just didn’t score enough and their goalie, for once, wasn’t that great, either.
The good news is the lower-body ailment that has kept Quinn Hughes out of the lineup for the past three games appears to be almost healed. Word came through before Saturday’s game that Hughes had joined up with his team.
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The Canucks headed on their current road trip on Wednesday without Hughes, who had missed the previous two games. The Canucks flew to St. Louis and beat the Blues Thursday — losing Brock Boeser in the opening minute. But even before that game, it was suggested that Hughes could join his teammates before one of the other two games on the trip.
Hughes wasn’t ready to play on Saturday, but the face he joined the trip at all suggested he’s close enough to a return that he could be ready to play in Nashville on Tuesday.
It’s been a tough season for Hughes, who has struggled to control play defensively. His defensive struggles have been remarkable, with the Canucks bleeding shots against with him on the ice at a level that just hasn’t been in his career before.
By the eye, Hughes has also looked a little sluggish, at least compared to his past ability to electrify every moment. League observers have queried whether he’s been dealing with an injury and certainly him missing the past three games — Thursday in St. Louis, plus home games last Tuesday vs. the New York Rangers and last Sunday against the Edmonton Oilers — certainly leads credence to that line of thinking.
All right, let’s go over this game …
Elias Pettersson: C+
Hard-working night. Using his strength to create chances. But a lack of shots isn’t what his team needs from him.
Jake DeBrusk: C+
Not much to say about his game. Like Pettersson, a competent night but not nearly enough on offence.
Brock Boeser: C+
He’s so smart on the puck but he can’t do it alone. Hit the post in the first. Maybe that changes the game? Anyway, like the rest of his line, a game the top line was needed but just not enough there.
Lukas Reichel: C
We’re getting used to the picture: Skates well, lots of puck touches, doesn’t add up to anything. Defensively, he’s not great.
Evander Kane: C+
Another good puck-carrying game. He’s finding his groove — though some goals surely have to come. Got an early shower, though after a bunch of nonsense with Nick Foligno. Could the short-handed Canucks have used him in a comeback effort? Yes. Was it likely they were going to come back? No.
Kiefer Sherwood: C
He can’t be a hero every night.
Aatu Raty: C+
Another decent night. Some offence would be nice.
Drew O’Connor: B
Two deserved goals. He’s been skating hard this year.
Mackenzie MacEachern: C+
Nice little early move to get a scoring chance. It was his shot created a chance for O’Connor’s goal.
Max Sasson: C-
Not a great night for the fourth line.
Arshdeep Bains: D
Early penalties not a good way to play. Not a good night for him.
Linus Karlsson: C-
He was in the lineup.
Junior Pettersson: C+
His two-way game is coming along.
Filip Hronek: B-
One of the few Canucks to have a standout night. He did his best filling in as the No. 1 defenceman.
Marcus Pettersson: B-
He’s just so competent, night in, night out.
Tyler Myers: B-
Another very active night for the big man.
P-O Joseph: C-
Lost his man on second Wild goal. He’s just not showing anything.
Tom Willander: C
Skated well enough on the night but whole team was flat
Thatcher Demko: C-
Uncharacteristically poor night. Flubbed catching the puck on both the third and fourth Wild goals. He’s been better.
pjohnston@postmedia.com
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