The Vancouver Canucks will be without goaltender Thatcher Demko for Game 1 against the Edmonton Oilers, potentially giving the Oilers an early advantage in the playoff series.

By the Numbers
  • The Canucks will start their second-string goaltender, Arturs Silovs, in place of Demko for Game 1.
  • The Oilers are favored to win the series, despite the Canucks finishing higher in the regular season standings and sweeping the Oilers in their season series.
Yes, But

There is uncertainty about how long Demko will be out and what impact his return will have on the Canucks' goaltending situation.

State of Play
  • The Canucks are facing a challenging start to the playoff series without their star goaltender.
  • The Oilers are looking strong after handling the Kings easily in their previous series.
What's Next

It remains to be seen how well Silovs performs in Game 1 and if Demko's return can shift the momentum for the Canucks in the series.

Bottom Line

The absence of Thatcher Demko in Game 1 could give the Edmonton Oilers an early advantage in the playoff series against the Vancouver Canucks, setting the stage for an intriguing goaltending battle as the series progresses.