from Iain MacIntyre of Sportsnet,

A single credit short of a psychology degree, Thatcher Demko was told that he is still undefeated in the National Hockey League. The goalie-academic then pivoted in the Vancouver Canucks’ dressing room and touched the faux wood panelling behind him.

“Knock on wood,” he said. “Hopefully I play a couple more.”

Ah, so the psychologist, the man of the brain, is superstitious?

“No, not anymore,” he said. “I was very superstitious in college. But not in pro.”

Well, whatever he’s got going for him worked magnificently on Friday night when the 22-year-old NHL rookie made 36 saves in his first start this season and was easily the best Canuck when Vancouver beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 despite being out-skated and outplayed.

Including his free one-game trial last March during a fact-finding mission from the minors, the former Boston College star is now 2-0 as an NHL goalie.

continued

The game highlights are below.