Rick Tocchet announces starting goalie, game time decision for tonight’s game

Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet has announced who will get the start between the pipes tonight against Los Angeles, along with a decision on playing time.

The Vancouver Canucks hit the ice at Rogers Arena Thursday morning as they prepare for a Pacific Division showdown with the Los Angeles Kings tonight.

Rick Tocchet’s group returns to Rogers Arena after a disappointing road trip in which they won just one of their five games, and as they look to turn things around on home ice, the Canucks bench boss announced who will start against the Kings.

Thatcher Demko announced as the starter, the Noah Juulsen decision for playing time

Meeting with reporters after the team’s morning skate, Rick Tocchet announced Thatcher Demko will get the start, his first start since Friday’s loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.

In eight games this season, Demko has a 2-2-3 record with a 3.17 goals-against average and a .883 save percentage.

Meanwhile on the blue line, it looks like there could be a change as Tocchet scores that Noah Juulsen is ‘up’ and is a game-time decision for tonight’s contest.

Expected lineup for tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Kings

At the morning skate, we have a good idea of ​​what the Canucks’ lines will look like for tonight’s game against Los Angeles and Rick Tocchet has shaken up after Tuesday’s loss in Winnipeg.

According to Sportsnet’s Brendan Batchelor, Jonathan Lekkerimaki will jump from the fourth line to the top line and play with Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk, while Phillip Di Giuseppe will move up to the second line, where he will skate with JT Miller and Brock Boeser.

As for the Canucks’ third line, it will be occupied by Danton Heinen, Pius Suter and Conor Garland.

The fourth line will feature Nils Hoglander, Teddy Blueger and the NHL’s hits leader this season, Kiefer Sherwood, while it looks like Max Sasson will sit out again.

On defense, Quinn Hughes and Filip Hronek will get the majority of the workload tonight as the team’s top pair, with Derek Forbort and Tyler Myers on the second, and Carson Soucy and Vincent Desharnais as the third pair.

‘Thursday morning #Canucks skate lines

DeBrusk. Pettersson. Lekkerimäki.
PDG. Miller. Boeser.
Heine. Suter. Garland.
Highlander. Blues. Sherwood.
Saxon.

Hughes. Hronek.
Gone away. Myers.
Soucy. Desharnais.
Brisebois.

(Noah Juulsen is absent)’ said Batchelor.

Puck drop for tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Kings at Rogers Arena is set for 7pm PT on Sportsnet Pacific.