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WhoB次元官网网址檚 in net? Canucks ponder crease question as focus turns to game 5

Health will the first priority as Tocchet considers his options
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Vancouver Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs (31) blocks a shot on goal against the Nashville Predators during the second period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-George Walker IV

After achieving a rare playoff feat, the Vancouver Canucks are facing a big question B次元官网网址 what comes next?

Three different goalies have backstopped the Canucks to victories this post-season, giving Vancouver a 3-1 edge in their first-round series against the Nashville Predators.

Now the team must decide whoB次元官网网址檒l be in net for a pivotal Game 5 on Tuesday.

For Canucks forward J.T. Miller, the answer doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter.

B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 affect the way weB次元官网网址檙e playing. If anything, you want to play harder for the guy in that situation,B次元官网网址 he said after rookie netminder Arturs Silovs helped Vancouver to a 4-3 overtime win in Game 4 on Sunday.

B次元官网网址淏ut it doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter whoB次元官网网址檚 in net. We should be playing on our toes and playing Canucks hockey no matter whoB次元官网网址檚 back there. IB次元官网网址檓 just happy that whoeverB次元官网网址檚 back there is stepping up big for us.B次元官网网址

All-star Thatcher Demko B次元官网网址 who was announced Monday as a finalist for the Vezina Award, handed out annually to the NHLB次元官网网址檚 top goalie B次元官网网址 got the start when Vancouver kicked off its post-season campaign on April 21.

After missing 14 games with a knee injury, the 28-year-old American returned for the final two contests of the regular season, then turned away 20 shots in VancouverB次元官网网址檚 Game 1 win.

Demko was sidelined by a lower-body injury ahead of Game 2 and Casey DeSmith stepped in.

With the 32-year-old backup in place, Vancouver dropped a 4-1 decision, then downed Nashville 2-1 in Game 3 for the first playoff victory of DeSmithB次元官网网址檚 six-season-long career.

B次元官网网址淚t couldnB次元官网网址檛 come at a better time,B次元官网网址 he said after the game. B次元官网网址淚 was really disappointed with how I played the other night. I thought the team played great the other night and didnB次元官网网址檛 get the result they deserved. And tonight I thought we really brought it. We earned that one. So it means a lot.B次元官网网址

B次元官网网址 emerged hours before the puck dropped in Game 4 Sunday that DeSmith was dealing with an undisclosed injury and Silovs would be making his first NHL playoff appearance.

B次元官网网址(DeSmithB次元官网网址檚) a competitor, he wanted to go. But we wanted to play the safe route,B次元官网网址 said Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet.

Silovs spent much of the season with VancouverB次元官网网址檚 American Hockey League affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks, making just four regular-season appearances for the NHL club.

Still, there was no panic when staff decided DeSmith couldnB次元官网网址檛 play, Tocchet said.

B次元官网网址淗e doesnB次元官网网址檛 look nervous to me, even before the game,B次元官网网址 the coach said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think the momentB次元官网网址檚 too big for him. I like his demeanour.B次元官网网址

The 23-year-old Latvian rose to the occasion, stopping 27 shots as the Canucks rallied late in the third period to erase a two-goal deficit and force the extra frame before Elias Lindholm sealed the victory with a goal 62 seconds into overtime.

Silovs has played under pressure before, leading Latvia to bronze B次元官网网址 its first medal B次元官网网址 at the World Championships last May. He was named MVP of the tournament and said the experience helped him stay calm when he got the nod Sunday.

B次元官网网址淚 played in Latvia, my hometown (in the World Championships),B次元官网网址 he said. B次元官网网址淚t was like the same atmosphere, I would say. Either they boo you or theyB次元官网网址檙e for you. ItB次元官网网址檚 always great to play.B次元官网网址

Just one other playoff team has used three different goalies to earn the first three wins of a playoff campaign B次元官网网址 the 2004 Canucks. That iteration of the club saw Dan Cloutier, Johan Hedberg and Alex Auld all suit up in the conference quarterfinal.

Whether Silovs will be in net Tuesday again is unclear. Tocchet said after SundayB次元官网网址檚 game that he expects DeSmith to be an option for Game 5, but that the Canucks would wait for more information.

B次元官网网址淥bviously, if (DeSmith) feels good enough to go and heB次元官网网址檚 safe to get in there, obviously you go with Casey. But saying that, weB次元官网网址檝e got Arty. WeB次元官网网址檙e confident with him,B次元官网网址 the coach said.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think itB次元官网网址檚 a lose-lose proposition. I think we win either way. I think the prudent thing is to get Casey healthy before we make any decision.B次元官网网址

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