The Edmonton Oilers will be without suspended superstar Connor McDavid when they host the struggling Vancouver Canucks on Thursday night in the second game between the Pacific Division rivals in less than a week.

Demko will defend the visiting cage in Edmonton on Thursday, according to Mark Spector of Sportsnet.

The Vancouver Canucks are a team imploding from the inside out with locker room drama, and now reports are surfacing that Thatcher Demko ... by the Oilers without Connor McDavid.

Things were testy to start, with the Oilers looking to avenge the loss of their Captain following Conor Garland’s malicious attack on Connor McDavid’s stick with the side of his face.

Zach Hyman scored two goals and had an assist and Leon Draisaitl had a goal and two assists as the Edmonton Oilers rolled over the visiting Vancouver Canucks 6-2 on Thursday.

Hands up. Who had Thatcher Demko getting the goaltending call Wednesday in Music City? After all, with a pair of solid-showing victories by Kevin Lankinen, the Vancouver Canucks were expected to give the unflappable Finn the start against the Nashville Predators and a run of all three games on this road trip.

The Pacific Division is fun this season. A new leader in the Pacific Division has emerged, as the Edmonton Oilers have a 32-15-3 record with 67 points.

A Vezina finalist last season, Demko has struggled in 2024-25 and is on pace to finish with a save percentage below .900 for the first time since 2017-18, when he played only one game. With only 33 games left in the regular season,

The Edmonton Oilers should consider trading Evan Bouchard in hopes of freeing up cap space, so they can solve their future cap issues.

Thank you, and so long Vancouver Canucks. On Thursday evening, the Edmonton Oilers hosted their Pacific Division rivals in the final matchup between the two teams this season.

Hands up. Who had Thatcher Demko getting the goaltending call Wednesday in Music City? After all, with a pair of solid-showing victories by Kevin Lankinen, the Vancouver Canucks were expected to give the unflappable Finn the start against the Nashville Predators and a run of all three games on this road trip.

Not since the players were toddlers have so many people delighted in their ability to count to two, but the Canucks earned their sound, 5-2 road win Monday against the St. Louis Blues after Saturday’s stout 2-1 victory against the National Hockey League-leading Washington Capitals.