Thatcher Demko stopped all 25 shots he faced and the host Vancouver Canucks blanked the Colorado Avalanche 3-0 on Tuesday.
It was the American goalie鈥檚 first shutout of the season and the ninth of his NHL career.
Jake DeBrusk buried his team-leading 19th goal of the season for the Canucks (24-18-11) early in the second period to open the scoring.
He later set up Brock Boeser for a power-play tally midway through the third. Filip Hronek contributed two assists, and Drew O鈥機onnor added an empty-net goal 鈥� his first as a Canuck 鈥� with 8.7 seconds left in the game.
Mackenzie Blackwood made 28 saves for the Avalanche (31-22-2), who allowed a goal for the first time in three games.
The game got chippy in the final frame, with multiple scrums erupting and officials doling out 26 minutes worth of penalties across the period 鈥� including a game misconduct to Colorado鈥檚 Miles Wood for poking his stick into the groin of Vancouver forward Linus Karlsson.
The Canucks now have points in five of their last six contests (4-1-1).
鈥淏est fans in the world. I鈥檝e been able to be here for 7 years now and it鈥檚 always a pleasure out here playing in front of these guys.鈥�
鈥� Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) February 5, 2025
馃棧 First star Thatcher Demko with Rinkside Reporter Olivia McDonald following a 25-save shutout! pic.twitter.com/WhF1KsvObW
TAKEAWAYS
Canucks: The team played without captain Quinn Hughes for a second straight game. The star defenceman skated briefly on Tuesday morning, but head coach Rick Tocchet said holding him out was 鈥渢he right move鈥� and that the undisclosed injury would be evaluated 鈥渄ay by day.鈥�
Avalanche: DeBrusk鈥檚 goal at the 4:26 mark of the second period snapped a 146-minute 55-second shutout streak for Blackwood. Colorado came into the game having outscored its opponents 9-5 in the previous three outings.
KEY MOMENT
Demko made a series of stunning stops midway through the second period to preserve the Canucks鈥� one-goal advantage. The American netminder batted away Cale Makar鈥檚 shot from the slot then, moments later, slid all the way across his crease to kick away Artturi Lehkonen鈥檚 shot with the toe of his left skate. Cheers of 鈥淟et鈥檚 go Demko!鈥� emanated throughout the rink during the ensuing TV timeout.
KEY STAT
The Canucks鈥� power play has been clicking recently, going 5-for-16 over the last five games.
UP NEXT
Canucks: Visit the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.
Avalanche: Continue a Canadian road swing Thursday against the Calgary Flames.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
READ MORE: Quinn Hughes to miss second straight game, Canucks say injury day-to-day
