Brendan Batchelor: Boudreau said that Podkolzin and Lazar are both gametime decisions, but I would expect Lazar to return, Podkolzin to remain out and Lockwood to be re-assigned to Abbotsford.
Thomas Drance: Burroughs, Rathbone and Podkolzin out late getting rinsed. Look like your projected Canucks scratches Friday vs. LAK.
Brendan Batchelor: Thatcher Demko is the first goalie off the ice at #Canucks morning skate.
Chris Faber: Line combinations from Friday’s Canucks morning skate (according to jersey colour):
Pettersson, Hughes Decline Optional SkateIn Preparation For Toronto Game Tonight
Thomas Drance: Optional Canucks morning skate Saturday in Toronto featuring 12 forwards (Pettersson absent), 7 defensemen (Hughes absent), two goaltenders and Travis Dermott in a non-contact sweater.
Mark Masters: Erik Kallgren will start again tonight against the Canucks, coach Sheldon Keefe says. Matt Murray (adductor) and Ilya Samsonov (knee) are unavailable. Keith Petruzzelli, the current back-up goalie, has never played in the NHL.
Thomas Drance: “He’s working through some things,” says Boudreau of Thatcher Demko. “A lot of it is confidence, but the confidence in us of him getting back to normal is high. That’s why we keep putting him in all the time.”
Iain MacIntyre: First step in fixing a problem is acknowledging there is a problem. Thatcher Demko knows there’s a problem. “I’m not doing as good a job as I know I can do. It’s something that as a teammate, as a competitor, it kind of eats at you.”
Thomas Drance: Canucks showing lines during drills, despite this being an optional skate:
Brendan Batchelor: Luke Schennis tied for the NHL lead with 57 hits this season. He also has five points in his last seven games. He also leads the #Canucks in plus/minus at +7.
Jeff Paterson: After starting season with OTL in Columbus, Spencer Martin has won his last three starts (vs PIT, ANA & at OTT) for #Canucks. Not shocked by decision to give him nod tonight in Toronto.
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