"One of the big stories out of Vancouver this morning is the news that goaltender Thatcher Demko will not return to play for the Canucks this season. Demko will have season-ending hip surgery. There's no real reason to put it off, considering where Vancouver is in the standings. Securely notched at 32nd in the league, shelving a goaltender like Demko will only help the Canucks improve the team's chances of securing a top pick in the NHL Entry Draft."
"The Canucks top scorer now that Sherwood is gone is Elias Pettersson (the forward), who has 31 points in 44 games. He also shares the team lead in goals with 13. Jake DeBrusk also has 13 goals this season. In the net, look for Kevin Lankinen or rookie Nikita Tolopilo. Lankinen is 7-16-4 with a .884 save percentage. Tolopilo is 5-2-3 with a .881 save percentage."
"According to Max Miller of the Sharks Hockey Digest, this is how the lines looked at practice this morning. #SJSharks lines at morning skate:Graf-Celebrini-SmithRegenda-Wennberg-ToffoliEklund-Misa-Gaudette Goodrow-Ostapchuk-Reaves Skinner-Kurashev-SherwoodOrlov-KlingbergFerraro-LiljegrenDickinson-DesharnaisMukhamadullin-Iorio- Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) January 27, 2026 It looks like there will be no changes to the lineup. The Sharks will skate with the same team that beat the New York Rangers on Friday. The only change is in the net where Yaroslav Askarov will start."
The San Jose Sharks travel to Vancouver for the first stop of a road trip before the Olympic break to face the Canucks. Goaltender Thatcher Demko will not return this season and will undergo season-ending hip surgery as Vancouver sits 32nd in the standings, increasing chances to secure a top draft pick. The teams meet for the third of four games; the Sharks won earlier meetings 3-2 on Nov. 28 and 6-3 on Dec. 27. Kiefer Sherwood is unlikely to play. Elias Pettersson leads Vancouver with 31 points in 44 games. Kevin Lankinen or rookie Nikita Tolopilo expected in net. Sharks lines remain unchanged from the win over the Rangers, and Yaroslav Askarov will start in goal.
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