Demko makes 26 saves, Canucks shut out Sabres for 5th straight win

BUFFALO -- Thatcher Demko made 26 saves to help the Vancouver Canucks win their fifth game in a row, 1-0 against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Saturday.

It was his fourth shutout of the season, and seventh in the NHL.

Demko made a save on a net-front scramble with five seconds remaining in the third period to preserve the victory. He was named as a 2024 NHL-All-Star Game participant via the Fan Vote on Saturday night.

“‘Demmer’, when you look at him, even the shots that went wide, he looks so big in the net,” Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet said. “That’s typical Demko. Very solid, doesn’t get rattled. Looks big in the net. Just a [heck] of a game by him.”

Sam Lafferty scored the only goal for the Canucks (29-11-3), who have won six of their past seven (6-1-0).

“I just think it shows we can win games different ways, which is really important here down the stretch,” Lafferty said. “Games are going to get harder and harder. Some games might be high scoring, some games are going to be like this, so it’s good to know we can play any style.”

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 22 saves for the Sabres (18-21-4), who had won three of four (3-1-0).

“We did a nice job of limiting them, nice job to play hard, had chances to win,” Buffalo coach Don Granato said. “But nobody’s going to be satisfied with that. I can assure you that our group is not. And obviously I’m not.”

Demko stopped Sabres forward Jordan Greenway at 7:46 of the first period on a short-handed wrist shot from the left circle, and held onto a quick redirect by Zach Benson at the top of the crease off a pass from Eric Robinson at 10:12.

The Canucks went nearly eight minutes without a shot on goal and were being outshot 9-3 in the period before getting more zone time and another four shots on goal over the final six minutes.

“The [Nils] Hoglander line, [Nils Aman], Lafferty went out there, that was a big, big shift and all of the sudden it kind of energized our team,” Tocchet said.

Brock Boeser appeared to give Vancouver the lead 39 seconds into the second period from high in the right circle, but Buffalo challenged for offside and the goal was overturned following video review.

But Lafferty put the Canucks ahead 1-0 at 2:05. Nikita Zadorov’s point shot hit Lafferty in front, and he turned and swept the loose puck by Luukkonen’s left pad.

Demko was sharp again at 18:30 of the second with the Sabres on the power play, getting across the crease for a glove save on Casey Mittelstadt on the goal line.

“I think I would have liked to have one-timed it,” Mittelstadt said. “I just couldn’t see it that well going through the defenseman. I still thought I got it off really quick and up. I think probably nine times out of 10, that goes in. Obviously, I’m going to have to go back and watch it tonight. But yeah, that one stung. I’m out there to make plays and I’ve got to put that one in.”

Demko held onto another Mittelstadt chance at 3:48 of the third period on the power play from the inner edge of the right circle, and saved a JJ Peterka slap shot from the slot at 18:47.

NOTES: The Canucks are 26-0-0 when leading after two periods. … Demko is tied with Tristan Jarry (Pittsburgh Penguins) for second in the NHL this season with four shutouts. Connor Ingram (Arizona Coyotes) is first with five. Demko is the first Vancouver goalie with four shutouts in a season since Ryan Miller had six in 2014-15. … Lafferty is the eighth Canucks player with at least 10 goals this season, which leads the NHL. … Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson left the game at 13 seconds of the second period with an upper-body injury and did not return after he was hit by Vancouver defenseman Filip Hronek. Granato did not have an update.