Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko is out until at least Game 5 of his team's Round 2 series against the Edmonton Oilers, sources told Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli.

Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet already ruled out Demko for Wednesday's Game 1 but didn't comment on his status beyond the series opener.

Demko started Vancouver's Round 1 opener versus the Nashville Predators before missing the remaining five games of the series due to a knee injury. Though it's apparently not the same injury that caused Demko to miss 14 games late in the regular season, it's the same knee that's ailing.

The 28-year-old was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy after posting a .918 save percentage and a 2.45 goals-against average in 51 games during the 2023-24 regular season.

Arturs Silovs, who entered the postseason as Vancouver's third-string goalie, projects to start Game 1 against Edmonton. The 23-year-old rookie recorded a .938 save percentage in three Round 1 appearances against the Predators, including a 28-save shutout in the series-clinching Game 6 victory.

Veteran Casey DeSmith is another option to tend goal and started Games 2 and 3 in Round 1. However, the Canucks rode with Silovs to close out the series despite DeSmith being available for Games 5 and 6.

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Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers were named Hart Trophy finalists Tuesday.

The Hart is awarded to the league's most valuable player and voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. It will be given out after the playoffs conclude in June.

The nominated trio were the league's top three scorers this season.

Kucherov and McDavid made history as only the fourth and fifth players ever to notch 100 assists in a season.

Kucherov secured his second Art Ross Trophy as the league's top producer and is a Hart finalist for the first time since he won the award in 2019. Kucherov's 144 points were the second-most by a player in the past 28 years - clearing his next-most productive teammate by 54 points - and his exploits were a key reason the Lightning reached the playoffs.

MacKinnon is a Hart finalist for the fourth time since 2017 and has never won the prestigious award. He established a new career high with 140 points and led the league in even-strength production. The Nova Scotia native broke the 50-goal plateau for the first time, led the league in shots (405), and ranked second among all forwards in average ice time (22:49).

McDavid is a three-time Hart winner and took home the award last year. The Oilers captain recorded his fourth consecutive 100-point season and led Edmonton to the playoffs after the club stumbled to a 2-9-1 start. Only three players in league history have won the Hart four times: Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, and Eddie Shore.

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