Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet says Thatcher Demko has 鈥渋mproved immensely the last 72 hours鈥� as the all-star goaltender works his way back from a lower-body injury.
The 28-year-old started Vancouver鈥檚 playoff opener against the Nashville Predators, but hasn鈥檛 suited up since.
Vancouver has turned to third-string rookie Arturs Silovs in the post-season after backup Casey DeSmith was hurt in Game 3 against the Predators.
Silovs, who is 4-3 in the playoffs with a .907 save percentage and a 2.71 goals-against average, led the Canucks a victory in that series and has been solid against the Oilers in the second round.
That matchup is tied 2-2 after Edmonton鈥檚 3-2 victory on home ice Tuesday. Game 5 of the best-of-seven showdown goes Thursday in Vancouver.
Tocchet, who is considering lineup changes after ripping some of his roster鈥檚 effort in Game 5, didn鈥檛 commit to Demko playing against the Oilers, but told reporters Wednesday the Vezina Trophy finalist has made 鈥渂ig strides鈥� in recent days.
Tocchet wasn鈥檛 happy with the performances of 鈥渇ive or six guys鈥� 鈥� including star centre Elias Pettersson 鈥� in the aftermath of Tuesday鈥檚 loss that evened the Pacific Division matchup.
And the Canucks鈥� top prospect might be the beneficiary.
Tocchet didn鈥檛 shoot down the notion that Swedish winger Jonathan Lekkerimaki could be an option Thursday in what would be his NHL debut.
鈥淚鈥檓 swinging the bat. I鈥檓 not scared,鈥� Tocchet said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know much about him 鈥� you鈥檝e got to get your intel.鈥�
Selected with the 15th pick at the 2022 NHL draft, the 19-year-old put up 19 goals and 32 points in 49 combined games with Orebro HK of Sweden鈥檚 top division this season.
Lekkerimaki also scored seven times and added three assists on home soil at the 2024 world junior hockey championship to earn MVP honours as part of his country鈥檚 silver-medal finish.
He got a first taste of North American pro hockey during a six-game stint with the AHL鈥檚 Abbotsford Canucks in late March and early April that saw him pick up a goal and an assist.
The five-foot-11 forward returned to Sweden last month in hopes of making his nation鈥檚 world championship roster, but was among the final cuts.
Lekkerimaki鈥檚 last competitive game was April 7.
鈥淚f we feel as an organization he鈥檚 (ready), I鈥檝e got no problem at all,鈥� Tocchet said. 鈥淚鈥檓 not scared to put somebody in. When you鈥檙e close to achieving something, which is trying to get to the next round, you鈥檒l do whatever. That鈥檚 the way it is.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 play safe if you want to win. You鈥檝e got to go for it.鈥�
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