This was obviously unexpected because Vancouver was dominant over Edmonton at that point in the game. After the game, Tocchet revealed that Demko was battling the flu, leading to dehydration and even causing him to vomit in his mask, as reported by Elliotte Friedman.
It's not the first flu incident for the Canucks. The team has been managing a flu outbreak in their locker room for several days. Even with the health issue, Demko was eager to participate in the season opener, and Tocchet permitted it. While it's hard to imagine the discomfort, Demko persevered until his limit.
There's some positive news for the Canucks, though. They won't be playing until Saturday night, offering the squad a few days to recover. Considering their 8-1 triumph over the Oilers, an exciting rematch is anticipated this Saturday at Rogers Place in Edmonton.
