Photo credit: Bob Frid – Imagn Images.
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko was frustrated the team’s coaching staff for not challenging San Jose’s first goal of the game on Saturday night.
The game didn’t go in Vancouver’s favour as San Jose scored twice in the first ten minutes of the game, as well as three times in the third period en route to 6-3 victory against the Canucks, their first at Rogers Arena since February of 2019.
With the loss, Vancouver dropped back to 32nd in the National Hockey League’s standings with a 15-19-3 record through 37 games this season and when meeting with reporters post-game, goaltender Thatcher Demko was not too pleased with the team’s coaching staff.
Thatcher Demko frustrated with team’s coaching staff for not challenging San Jose’s first goal
Just over six minutes into the first period, the San Jose Sharks opened the scoring as Ryan Reaves picked up his third of the season, one shy of matching his goal total during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
“Ryan Reaves opens the scoring in Vancouver 👀” Sportsnet said on X.
The puck was loose behind Thatcher Demko and as the Canucks netminder reached back to grab it with his glove, Ryan Reaves jammed his stick at it, knocking it into the net, giving his team a 1-0 lead.
Thatcher Demko was not happy that it was a good goal and pleaded his case to the officials that it should’ve been called goaltender interference, but Adam Foote and the team’s coaching staff opted not to challenge.
After the game, Thatcher Demko was clearly frustrated that the goal was allowed to stand and believes that his coaching staff should’ve challenged for goaltender interference.
“I thought we should have challenged the first one. When I found it, I got my hand on top of it and swept it out, and then he pushed my entire arm in the net.” Demko said.
He added, “I mean, you see challenges where guys are jabbing legs and whatever else in the net, and they usually get called back.”
If that was challenged and the goal was called back for goaltender interference, the Sharks might not have used the momentum they had to score another less than two minutes later and perhaps Vancouver could’ve found a way to take the lead after 20 minutes.
Thatcher Demko’s frustration is valid, the Canucks probably should’ve challenged, but there’s nothing that can be done now and hopefully, the San Diego native uses it as motivation for his next start, which will either be Monday vs Seattle or Tuesday vs Philadelphia.