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Thatcher Demko skated Sunday morning, but Kevin Lankinen will get the call tonight for a second-straight start at Rogers Arena, while the recalled Jiri Patera will serve as backup against the high-octane Colorado Avalanche.
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Lankinen made back-to-back starts last season. He had 23 saves in a 4-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at home on March 11 before a 20-save outing the next night in Calgary for a 4-3 triumph.
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He’ll be tested tonight by the red-hot duo of Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas. They have combined for 21 goals and 42 points for the Avalanche, who are 9-1-5 and coming off a 9-1 pummelling of the Oilers on Saturday in Edmonton.
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Connor McDavid can’t beat Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko on Oct. 11 at Rogers Place. Oilers prevailed 3-1. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia News
With Demko ensuring he’s rested and invested for what awaits as a gruelling and condensed schedule continues Tuesday against Winnipeg — before a three-game southeastern road trip jammed into four days starting Friday in Carolina — Canucks head coach Adam Foote suggested Sunday that his starting goaltender could possibly face the Jets.
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“Thatcher felt good, he had a good day,” Foote said of the Sunday skate. “For me, it looks like he will (play) Tuesday, and I’ll deal with it later when you (media) guys get mad at me if he doesn’t.”
Lankinen didn’t know Saturday night after backstopping a 4-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets with a 29-save performance that he would be going back-to-back. However, he prepped like he might be playing in lieu of Demoko’s rest plan.
“That’s what we asked him to do,” said Foote.
Demko is 5-4-0 this season with a 2.57 goals-against average and .912 saves percentage. Lankinen is 3-4-0 with a bloated 3.54 GGA and .884 saves percentage.
bkuzma@postmedia.com
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