Canucks appear to have another controversy on their hands — this time between goalies

The Vancouver Canucks franchise has had no shortage of goaltending controversies over the years, and now they find themselves there yet again between Thatcher Demko and Kevin Lankinen.

Canucks fans are having deja vu watching Thatcher Demko, expected to be the bonafide starter, struggle this season while supposed backup Kevin Lankinen has shone.

While controversy between the Canucks star forwards has soaked up most of the attention from fans, media and the front office — Demko has been far from the star goalie the team expected him to be since returning from injury.

History repeats for the Vancouver Canucks

Over a decade ago, the Vancouver Canucks found themselves in a goaltending controversy with Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider, and before that with Corey Hirsch and Kirk McLean, and so on and so forth...

The Canucks have seen their backup goaltender outplay the starter several times throughout the franchise's history, and it's happening again with Kevin Lankinen and Thatcher Demko.

While the team still seems to believe in Demko, Jim Rutherford's history with Carolina and Pittsburgh — where young backups supplanted the starting goalie en route to a Cup — shows there could be a willingness to ride with the hot hand.

Without Demko stealing some games for the Canucks however, they may not even make it to the playoffs.