Demko makes 36 saves for Canucks in 4-3 win over Sabres

Thatcher Demko made 36 saves in his second NHL game, leading the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.

Alex Edler, Sven Baertschi, Brock Boeser and Loui Eriksson scored for Vancouver.

Buffalo got goals from Evan Rodrigues, Kyle Okposo and Sam Reinhart. Linus Ullmark stopped 19 shots.

Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (35) and Loui Eriksson (21) celebrate the team's win over the Buffalo Sabres in an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan HaywardThe Canadian Press via AP)

Demko, who made one appearance for the Canucks last season, was called up Jan. 4 from the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League after Vancouver traded backup goalie Anders Nilsson to Ottawa.

The 23-year-old netminder was tested early and often Friday, and his performance had the crowd chanting "Dem-Ko! Dem-Ko!" in appreciation of some highlight-reel saves.

Rodrigues beat the young goaltender 8:48 in after Rasmus Ristolainen got a pass to the left wing down low and Rodrigues chipped it up over Demko's pad.

The Vancouver Canucks celebrate a win over the Buffalo Sabres in an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan HaywardThe Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver had yet to register a single shot.

Edler got the Canucks on the board 3½ minutes later with a massive slap shot from the blue line. The speeding puck squeezed through traffic and past Ullmark down low.

Vancouver went up by one at 15:31 of the first after defenseman Derrick Pouliot sliced a pass through the Buffalo crease to Baertschi, who collected it on his tape and popped the puck into a wide-open net.

Vancouver Canucks left wing Josh Leivo (17) tries to get a shot past Buffalo Sabres goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) during the third period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward The Canadian Press via AP)

The Swiss left wing sustained a concussion in October that kept him out of the lineup for 30 games. He has six points since he returned late last month.

Early in the second, Pouliot and fellow defenseman Erik Gudbranson got caught behind the Vancouver net, leaving Okposo wide open at the hash marks. The right wing got the puck and flipped a backhand past Demko to even the score.

Vancouver pulled ahead once again eight minutes into the period.

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Ben Hutton (27) goes into the boars with Buffalo Sabres center Vladimir Sobotka (17) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward The Canadian Press via AP)

Bo Horvat stripped Buffalo's Lawrence Pilut of the puck and made a beautiful pass to Boeser in front of the Sabres net. The right wing tipped it in for his 16th goal of the season.

Horvat's assist was his 200th NHL point.

But the lead didn't last long. Almost three minutes later, Conor Sheary made a quick pass to Reinhart in front of the Vancouver crease and he put in a no-look backhand up high.

Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser (6) celebrates his goal against the Buffalo Sabres with teammates Troy Stecher (51) and Bo Horvat (53) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward The Canadian Press via AP)

Nearly six minutes into the third, Canucks left wing Josh Leivo dug out the puck from behind the Buffalo net and dished it to Eriksson. He put a one-timer past Ullmark for his fourth point in three games.

The Sabres had opportunities to tie it again on a power play late in the third. Ullmark was pulled with 87 seconds left, but Demko held strong.

UP NEXT

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (26) puts Vancouver Canucks center Tyler Motte (64) into the boards during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward The Canadian Press via AP)

Sabres: Off until after the All-Star break.

Canucks: Host the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.

More AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Buffalo Sabres center Sam Reinhart celebrates his goal against Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward The Canadian Press via AP)

Buffalo Sabres defenseman Lawrence Pilut (24) puts Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser (6) into the boards during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward The Canadian Press via AP)

Buffalo Sabres center Sam Reinhart, rear, fights for control of the puck with Vancouver Canucks defenseman Derrick Pouliot during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Erik Gudbranson (44) fights for control of the puck with Buffalo Sabres right wing Kyle Okposo (21) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Erik Gudbranson (44) tries to stop Buffalo Sabres center Vladimir Sobotka (17) from getting a shot on Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (35) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward The Canadian Press via AP)

Buffalo Sabres left wing Evan Rodrigues celebrates his goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward The Canadian Press via AP)

Buffalo Sabres left wing Evan Rodrigues (71) celebrates his goal past Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko (35) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks left wing Sven Baertschi (47) looks on as Buffalo Sabres left wing Evan Rodrigues (71) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward The Canadian Press via AP)

Buffalo Sabres center Sam Reinhart (23) fights for control of the puck with Vancouver Canucks defenseman Derrick Pouliot (5) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward The Canadian Press via AP)