There were some Vancouver Canucks fans who were concerned that Michael DiPietro would have his confidence ruined after being thrown to the Sharks — literally and figuratively, earlier this season when he was forced to make his NHL debut at just 19 years of age.
The Canucks were without a backup goaltender after Thatcher Demko went down with an injury shortly after the Canucks had dealt Anders Nilsson to the Ottawa Senators — and Mike McKenna, the goaltender that came from Ottawa, being claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Flyers.