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That is now an open question after No. 1 goalie Kevin Lankinen was a late scratch for Saturday game against the Utah Mammoth.
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Why Lankinen was a scratch wasn’t immediately clear: The Canucks acknowledged a request for information but so far have not replied. Hockey Night in Canada’s John Shorthouse reported during the telecast that Lankinen was “under the weather” but shared no other details.
Saturday’s game was an early start, so the Canucks didn’t have a morning skate.
With Lankinen out, Nikita Tolopilo got the start. He also started on Thursday vs. Minnesota, though the Canucks have mostly been relying on Lankinen in the final weeks of the season.
It’s been a tough for Tolopilo, who got the start a week ago vs. Calgary but was lifted from the game early in the second period after yielding four goals on 11 shots. He’d sat out for the previous five games, and on his previous start gave up five goals on 33 shots to Seattle.
As backup, the Canucks have called up Jiri Patera. Patera made his lone start of the season on Nov. 17 in Florida. He gave up seven goals on 40 shots as the Panthers ventilated the Canucks, winning 8-5.
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