In Vancouver Friday night, Loui Eriksson struck for the eventual game-winner at 5:57 of the third period to help the Canucks to a 4-3 win over the visiting Buffalo Sabres.
Thatcher Demko made first start of the season for Vancouver and made 36 stops for the win.
Demko was recalled from the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League.
Loui Eriksson scored game-winner over Sabres – file photo courtesy of Lewis Bleiman
“I haven’t played in two weeks or something like that, so to get a lot of shots was nice,” Demko said. “I know I just got up here, I’ve got a lot to prove. And I’m more than willing to do that. I know it’s going to take work and results as well. You’ve got to prove yourself.”
Demko needed an equipment change when a rising one-timer struck him on the mask with enough force to warrant a change in helmets.
“The puck caught me just above the eyebrow, and the cage was actually touching my eyebrow,” Demko said. “I maybe needed a little break too. The power play was kind of buzzing.”
Brock Boeser, Alexander Edler and Sven Baertschi also scored for the Canucks.
Vancouver improved to 22-21-6 and are 2-0-2 in their four.
“These are meaningful games, and [Demko] stepped up like great players do and he played phenomenal,” Bo Horvat (two assists) said. “We owe him a lot of credit.”
Evan Rodrigues, Kyle Okposo and Sam Reinhart struck for the Sabres’ goals as they dropped to 24-18-6.
“I thought we played a really good game tonight and mistakes cost us,” Okposo said. “We created plenty to win that game. They capitalized on our mistakes, and [Demko] made a couple great saves.”
The Sabres are 3-6-1 in their 10 matches.
“I loved the way we started the game,” Sabres head coach Phil Housley said. “We were in the offensive zone, we were making plays, we were executing well, we were getting a lot of looks, and then we give up those two goals and it’s more of just sorting things out in our own end.”
[WATCH: All Sabres vs. Canucks highlights]
Linus Ullmark made 19 saves in the loss.
The Sabres are off until January 29.
“This break is something we have to treat positively. The last week and a half, we have made some mistakes, we haven’t gotten the results we wanted, and when we come back, we have to push,” Okposo said. “There’s no bones about it, we’re outside of a Stanley Cup [Playoff] spot right now. We talk a lot about the process and the way we have to play, and I think our identity is forged now, and now we have to get results, now we have to make sure we are limiting those mistakes away from the puck, and (it is) time for everybody to take a step.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.