The Vancouver Canucks are making another adjustment in the crease, this time for a good reason off the ice. Goaltender Nikita Tolopilo is heading home to be with his wife, who’s currently in labor - a personal moment that understandably takes priority over hockey. With Tolopilo stepping away, the Canucks have recalled Jiri Patera from their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford.
Tolopilo had been called up just last week on an emergency basis and made the most of his short stint. The 25-year-old netminder turned heads with a 37-save win over the Anaheim Ducks, showing poise and control in just his second NHL start.
He followed that up with a tougher outing against the San Jose Sharks, allowing three goals in a loss. Still, for a goalie getting his first real taste of NHL action, Tolopilo’s shown flashes of potential.
Through four career games, he holds a 2-2-0 record with a 2.97 goals-against average and a .890 save percentage - not lights-out, but certainly serviceable for a young goalie thrown into the fire.
Now, it’s Patera’s turn again. This isn’t unfamiliar territory for the 26-year-old Czech goaltender.
He’s been up with the big club before - most recently back on November 17, when he got the nod against the Florida Panthers. That night didn’t go his way, as he gave up seven goals on 40 shots in an 8-5 loss to the reigning Stanley Cup champs.
It was a rough outing, but context matters. The Panthers are a high-powered team, and Vancouver was dealing with a patchwork lineup due to injuries and personal absences.
Patera was also briefly recalled last week when Kevin Lankinen missed the start of the team’s road trip for personal reasons. So far this season in Abbotsford, Patera has posted solid, if not spectacular, numbers: a 2-2-2 record, 2.89 GAA, and .899 save percentage in six games.
In his NHL career - which includes eight appearances with the Vegas Golden Knights - he’s 3-4-1 with a 4.01 GAA and .892 SV%. Those stats suggest a goalie still trying to find his footing at the top level, but the Canucks will be looking for stability, not stardom, as he steps in.
Meanwhile, the Canucks are still without their No. 1 goaltender, Thatcher Demko. The former Vezina Trophy finalist hasn’t played since suffering an injury against the Winnipeg Jets last month and remains on injured reserve.
Despite earlier indications from head coach Adam Foote that Demko would travel with the team, he’s stayed back in Vancouver to continue his rehab. In 10 starts this season, Demko has put together a 5-4-0 record with a 2.80 GAA and a .903 SV% - numbers that reflect his usual steady presence between the pipes.
With Demko sidelined and Tolopilo stepping away for family reasons, Vancouver’s goaltending depth is being tested yet again. As they prepare to face the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night, the Canucks - currently 10-13-3 - will be leaning on whoever’s in net to hold the line against one of the league’s most dangerous offensive teams.
It’s been a season of shifting pieces in goal for Vancouver, but that’s life in the NHL. Sometimes the backup becomes the starter, and sometimes the starter becomes the story off the ice. For now, the Canucks are hoping Patera can give them a chance to stay competitive - and maybe even steal a win.