Canucks’ Thatcher Demko ‘puked in his mask,’ pulled from game vs Oilers

Vancouver Canucks’ goaltender Thatcher Demko was pulled from Wednesday night’s game vs the Edmonton Oilers after he “puked in his mask,” said head coach Rick Tocchet.

“He started to feel dehydrated. He didn’t really want to come out, but then when he puked in his mask, I said, ‘You got to come out,'” said Tocchet.

Tocchet said the entire team had been dealing with the flu through the week. It didn’t seem to affect their play, as the Canucks defeated their Pacific division rivals 8-1 in what would be both team’s first game of the season.

Demko stopped 21 of 22 shots before being pulled midway through the third period. Casey DeSmith came in relief, stopping all five shots he faced.

Canucks’ forward Brock Boeser scored a career-high four goals in the win.

“I kind of got to that mindset in the summer where I’ve got to be a better hockey player and really work hard,” Boeser said. “I came back and it continues each and every day, I’ve got to have that same mindset. Tomorrow, the next practice, the morning skate, I’ve got to keep it going.”

“I know he did some different training this year, he’s had a good camp, and he knows that he’s got to keep going,” said Tocchet on Boeser.

Both J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson added a goal and three assists, and Quinn Hughes had three assists of his own.

Leon Draisaitl scored the lone goal for Edmonton midway through the second, assisted by Connor McDavid and Evan Bouchard.

The teams will meet again Saturday night in Edmonton.