Rick Tocchet may have lost his starting goaltender in Thatcher Demko for three-to-four weeks with an apparent knee injury but the Canucks head coach certainly hasn香蕉视频直播檛 lost his sense of humor.
During his media availability session after a morning practice at Rogers Arena on Tuesday, Tocchet was in an engaging mood when it came to the topic of goaltending in general.
When asked by this agent about goalie Casey DeSmith香蕉视频直播檚 makeup and how it would impact his ability to transform from a back-up to the starter for the next few weeks, Tocchet香蕉视频直播檚 answer had the media contingent chuckling.
香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 well-liked. I香蕉视频直播檝e been in the league some 40 years or whatever, but when you like the goalie, you tend to block more shots for the guy. I don香蕉视频直播檛 know why. I香蕉视频直播檝e had some goalies where I香蕉视频直播檓 not a big fan of the guy. I香蕉视频直播檓 not saying I kind of veered out of the way but when you like a goalie, you香蕉视频直播檒l really dive in (front of a shot),香蕉视频直播� said Tocchet drawing some laughs from the assembled media. 香蕉视频直播淭hose guys love Casey. So you香蕉视频直播檒l see a lot of guys willing to block shots 香蕉视频直播� like they do for Demmer
Then a few minutes later when asked if the team would be a little bit more cognizant about the defensive side of the game with DeSmith in goal, Tocchet came up with some more material.
香蕉视频直播淒o I want to put him in a bad situation by turning the puck over and they get a three-on-one? I think those guys are conscious of that. Casey has done a lot for us. He doesn香蕉视频直播檛 play a ton or all the time. He香蕉视频直播檚 a great guy. I think that comes into play. Then the guy dumps it in because he likes him. I don香蕉视频直播檛 know if that makes sense,香蕉视频直播� said Tocchet as the media chuckled.
香蕉视频直播淪o if a guy doesn香蕉视频直播檛 dump it in tomorrow and it香蕉视频直播檚 a three-on-one you香蕉视频直播檙e going to say he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 like the guy.香蕉视频直播�
All kidding aside, losing a Vezina Trophy candidate in Demko is no joke but perhaps Tocchet香蕉视频直播檚 mood gave us some perspective on how he香蕉视频直播檚 feeling about Demko香蕉视频直播檚 injury and the confidence that he has in DeSmith.
The official word from Tocchet on Demko香蕉视频直播檚 injury is 香蕉视频直播渓ower-body, week-to-week香蕉视频直播� but Canucks Nation biggest fear 香蕉视频直播� that Demko wouldn香蕉视频直播檛 be ready for the playoffs 香蕉视频直播� wasn香蕉视频直播檛 even on the head coach香蕉视频直播檚 radar.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 not worried about that at all,香蕉视频直播� answered Tocchet, adding that the upcoming time off for Demko was actually a positive given his workload this season.
As for DeSmith, this isn香蕉视频直播檛 the first time he香蕉视频直播檚 been called upon to be the number one goalie and those previous experiences with the Pittsburgh Penguins give him full confidence moving forward.
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e done this a couple of times in my career just filling in for injury and getting the net for a little while. I香蕉视频直播檝e always enjoyed the experience and had some good success in the past when I香蕉视频直播檝e had the net for a couple of weeks, so I香蕉视频直播檓 looking forward to it. I have my job to do and I香蕉视频直播檓 just a very small part of the big picture, so I try to worry about my little part and not the big picture,香蕉视频直播� DeSmith said.
With Demko out of the lineup, the Canucks have summoned Arturs Silovs from their AHL farm team in Abbotsford where the 22-year-old Latvian was enjoying a solid season posting a 2.74 GAA to go along with a .907 save percentage in 32 games.
香蕉视频直播淚 remember last year when we called him up, the second and third game you could see the improvement in Silovs so I think it香蕉视频直播檚 good that he gets a taste of it up here,香蕉视频直播� said Tocchet.
Despite Silov香蕉视频直播檚 success this season, this is DeSmith香蕉视频直播檚 time.
香蕉视频直播淎s of now, we香蕉视频直播檙e just going game-to-game. Casey香蕉视频直播檚 definitely going to get the next two games and we香蕉视频直播檒l go from there. I think Casey deserves the chance to get the ball and take it,香蕉视频直播� explained Tocchet.
OVERTIME
* DeSmith says the biggest adjustment he香蕉视频直播檚 going to have to make in his new role is how he handles practice time. 香蕉视频直播淧ractices are a little different. I香蕉视频直播檒l get a couple of more sessions in with Clarkie (goaltending coach Ian Clark) than maybe I would normally. Then not staying on after (practice) as much, getting your work done before practice, going through practice, getting off and then taking care of the body a little bit,香蕉视频直播� said DeSmith.
* Tocchet believes a big key for the club香蕉视频直播檚 improved play as of late has been the ability to take away the opposition香蕉视频直播檚 speed through the neutral zone. The coaching staff made a video presentation to the players about four games ago and it seems to have resonated with the group.
* Defenseman Tyler Myers, who has missed the last four games with a lower-body injury, was a full participant in practice on Tuesday and is expected to be ready for either the game against Colorado tonight at Rogers Arena or when the Washington Capitals visit on Saturday.
* The organization announced a contract extension for Abbotsford general manager Ryan Johnson and that he has also been promoted to Assistant General Manager with Vancouver. The Canucks also announced contract extensions for Assistant General Managers Cammi Granato and 脡milie Castonguay.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 香蕉视频直播渢he Moj香蕉视频直播� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.
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