The Vancouver Canucks are still feeling the ripple effects of Thatcher Demko’s absence, and their approach to filling the backup goaltender spot behind Kevin Lankinen has been anything but settled. Rather than committing to one option, the Canucks are continuing to shuffle their depth, calling up Nikita Tolopilo from AHL Abbotsford while sending Jiri Patera back down.
This latest move is part of an ongoing rotation that reflects just how wide open the No. 2 spot is right now. Tolopilo, who’s back with the big club, didn’t exactly shine during his last NHL stint.
He gave up six goals apiece in games against Montreal and Edmonton, pushing his season totals in the NHL to a 3.98 goals-against average and a .881 save percentage over six appearances. Those numbers paint a pretty clear picture-he’s still finding his footing at the NHL level.
That said, his brief return to the AHL showed a bit more stability. In two starts since being sent down last weekend, Tolopilo allowed five goals on 54 shots.
It’s not lights-out goaltending, but it’s a step in the right direction. Over 13 games with Abbotsford this season, he’s posted a 2.94 GAA and a .901 SV%, which suggests there’s potential-just not quite NHL-ready consistency.
As for Jiri Patera, this latest reassignment sends him back to a place where he’s been the most reliable netminder all season. He didn’t get into any NHL action during his recent call-up, and his lone appearance for Vancouver this season was a rough one-seven goals allowed in a loss to Florida.
But down in Abbotsford, he’s been their go-to guy. In 16 games, Patera has put up a 2.49 GAA and a .915 SV%, solid numbers that show he’s been dialed in at the AHL level.
With this move, he’ll finally get back into some game action, having not played since January 16.
The Canucks’ decision to keep rotating between Tolopilo and Patera underscores the fact that neither has firmly grabbed hold of the backup job. And with the Olympic break on the horizon, it wouldn’t be surprising to see this goalie carousel keep spinning for a little while longer. Until someone steps up and delivers a string of confident, reliable performances, Vancouver’s crease behind Lankinen will remain a work in progress.